Clara the Rhino

by Katrin Hirt, Laura Fuchs (Illustrator)

Overview

Based on the true story and friendship between an orphaned rhino and a sea captain in the mid-18th century.

When a baby rhino is orphaned in India with nowhere to go, a gentle sea captain from Holland—Douwe van der Meer—decides to take her to Europe with him. Clara wins the hearts of everyone—from villagers to princes, kings, and queens who have never seen a rhino before. All are delighted by the gentle giant—whose image soon appears on posters, coins, and statuettes, until the fine day when the Dutch Captain gives Clara her a home of her own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735843950
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	03/03/2020
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Katrin Hirt is an historian and she lives with her family in Tübingen, Germany. As well as being a journalist and research assistant, she writes stories for children. Clara the Rhino is her first picture book.

Laura Fuchs grew up in the midst of the Arnsberg Forest Nature Park in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Today she lives in Hamburg, where she is currently studying illustration at the University of Applied Sciences. Her love of Nature and animals has always been the inspiration for her stories and pictures.

Editorial Reviews

This story of friendship and loyalty are sure to enchant readers of all ages and the entire family will enjoy following Clara’s journey across the world.

New York Journal of Books

Clara wins the hearts of everyone as she and the Captain travel all over Europe. Her image appears on posters, coins, statuettes, and art in museums. She finally returns to Holland where the Captain provides Clara a home of her own. A map shows Clara’s extensive travels through Europe. Bold, colorful artwork enhances the story.

OmniLibros

2019-11-05
A historical picture book about a rhino who traveled the world in the 18th century.

Hirt opens by telling readers that this baby rhino's story begins around 300 years ago, when there were no planes or buses and most people journeyed only as far as their neighboring town. The baby rhino—later named Clara—lives with her mother in India. When hunters kill her mother (neither hunters nor act is depicted), they give the orphaned rhino to a white merchant and his family, who raise her as a pet until she gets too big for their house. The merchant then gives Clara away to Capt. Douwe van der Meer, a young white mariner, and he sails to Europe with the rhino, correctly predicting that she would be a sensation there. Fame follows Clara as she is exhibited to several people, including kings and queens across Europe. Based on historical accounts of a real rhino's travels across the world, Hirt's steady narrative and Fuchs' bright and detailed illustrations make this tale a cheerful one; indeed, the book puts a downright positive spin on Clara's tale, as she seems to be smiling during her travels, thus masking any trauma that might have been faced by the real rhino. Moreover, although the tale begins in India, almost all the depicted characters are European and white.

An interesting-enough story, albeit from a very human, colonialist perspective. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews