This is the true story of Karen the orangutan's brave journey through history-making heart surgery and how she won the hearts of everyone around her at the San Diego Zoo. As a young orangutan, Karen had a life-threatening heart murmur caused by a hole in her heart. To save Karen's life, a surgery team from UC San Diego Medical Center performed open-heart surgery on her--the first time this had ever been done on an orangutan. Readers will be inspired by this heartwarming story that connects, engages, and builds empathy for our animal friends. Karen's Heart is part of the Hope & Inspiration Series from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press. Get all the books in the series to be truly inspired! Winner of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Award Silver Award for Young Reader Nonfiction. The three Hope and Inspiration books have been read with tears in my eyes, a tremendous feeling of love, and hope for humanity I have such a sense of amazement as to the strength of the animals in need of help, as well as the unbelievable understanding, compassion, empathy, and LOVE given by not only the San Diego Zoo staff but the other animals who entered their lives to help them heal. Wonderful writing and pictures. Those three books gave me the lift in my soul that I needed. --Marcia Cooper, Denver, Colorado These books should be in every library's children's section. These books are perfect for young readers. They should be in every library and elementary school classroom. Bright colors and darling animal photos draw the reader to read and learn about each part of the story. Every book shares a story of overcoming physical issues. Children who need to go to the doctor or a hospital will love each victorious story! Each book includes animal facts and suggestions for how the reader can help the animals featured in the book! What an amazing introduction to nonfiction books for young readers. The books are perfect for young readers but the content and photos even draw in adults. These true stories share victorious and engaging tales about real animals. You can't help but fall in love with these books. Even reluctant readers will love each of these books. Small text boxes and fun photographs make words accessible. I truly love each of these books. They are an amazing introduction of nonfiction books for young readers. --Kris Flynn, retired educator and reading specialist, San Diego County Office of Education and WestEd Readers will be inspired by this heartwarming story that connects, engages, and builds empathy for our animal friends. This is the true story of Karen the orangutan's brave journey through history-making heart surgery and a challenging recovery""and how, in the process, she won the hearts of everyone around her. Karen the orangutan has always been special to her caretakers at the San Diego Zoo. As a baby, Karen needed extra attention from her human friends so she could thrive in the Zoo nursery after her orangutan mother was unable to care for her. When she was a year old, Karen returned to her orangutan family, but soon her keepers noticed she wasn't feeling well much of the time, nor was she growing as quickly as she should. Karen was examined by Zoo veterinarians and cardiologists, who discovered that she had a life-threatening heart murmur, caused by a hole in her heart. To save Karen's life, a surgery team from UC San Diego Medical Center performed open-heart surgery on her""the first time this had ever been done on an orangutan. When Georgeanne "George" Irvine was a child, she slept with a dozen stuffed animals on her bed--a lion, two teddy bears, a tiger, a monkey, and more. It was indicative of what was to come: a lifelong career at the San Diego Zoo as a champion for wildlife and conservation as well as an author of two dozen children's books about animals. Photographing and learning about animals in their native habitats are passions for George. Her worldwide adventures have taken her to many of the wildest places on Earth--from the jungles, mountains, and forests of Asia and South America to the savannas of Africa as well as the Outback of Australia. George has devoted more than 40 years of her colorful career to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where she is director of publishing.
