Hanna was a hippopotamus. She lived in the zoo in Budapest, a city famous for its hippos. Hanna and the other hippos thrived in the warm springs that flowed naturally from the ground. The people of Budapest were proud of their hippos and often visited Hanna and her friends in their special house at the zoo.

One winter, however, it was so cold that the river between twin towns of Buda and Pest froze. There was a war going on, and people and animals were starving. But the people of Budapest made a plan to save their beloved hippos. 

This heartwarming story, based on a true incident that took place during World War II, is beautifully told by author Trish Marx. Barbara Knutson's charming illustrations magically evoke the faraway place and time.

From the dust jacket