Amazing Omeo: A Baby Koala's True Story of Survival by Georgeanne Irving (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press, 2023, $14.99HB, ages 6-10, 36pp) Review by Skye Anderson.
With the most adorable cover, Amazing Omeo tells the story of both one baby koala and of koalas in general as well as a bit about wildlife and conservation with baby foot prints on the inside front cover and grown-up footprints on the inside back cover.
Jelly Beans and Roller Coasters
Did you know when a baby koala is born, he is the size of a jelly bean and is called a joey? He lives in his mom's safe pouch for about six months until he grows.
Omeo's first few days were truly a roller coaster ride healthwise. As a found orphan, he had to be fed around the clock every few hours and sometimes he wouldn't eat. It would seem as if something was wrong but then he would revive and look strong.
Teaching a Koala How to Be a Koala
Omeo's zookeepers slowly taught Omeo everything - from drinking out of a bottle to eating eucalyptus leaves. And other koalas eventually helped by being good role models.
Koalas are the only animals who can eat eucalyptus and it is their only food. These Australian marsupials can eat the leaves because they have a certain bacteria in their gut that they get from their moms. Without a mother, Omeo had to depend on the zookeepers to be able to get other koalas to 'donate' some of that bacteria in 'pap' from poop soup for Omeo to grow and prosper. And grow he did: on his second birthday he loved his 'cake.'
Amazing Omeo is balanced with just the right number of words and photos - and colors. Pink is Omeo's color framing many of the pages and pictures. The young reader will also learn amazing fun facts about koalas and also learn how they and their families can help conserve wildlife.
If you liked Amazing Omeo, you will also like Teaching Tornero: The True Story of a Sloth Superstar! And there are more titles in the series from the San Diego Zoo.
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