num_pages: 40
description: A biographical picture book about rhino champion Anna Merz and the black rhinoceros Samia.When Anna Merz traveled to East Africa she became appalled at the rampant poaching that took place there specifically toward the black rhinoceros. Anna devoted her life to protecting the wildlife of the region founding a reserve in Kenya called Lewa Downs to care for them. Anna kept a watchful eye on the animals especially the rhinos. One day Anna found a small black rhino calf likely abandoned by its mother. So she nurtured the calf named it Samia fed it special formula and even let it sleep in her bed.Everywhere Anna went Samia was never far behind. The two became so close in fact that Anna soon learned how rhinos communicate with one another. Anna was able to distinguish the rhinos many different grunts and what she meant by them: Snort! Snuff cried Samia (This is fun!); Hoo-hoo-hoo! she called (Im coming!). But with time Samia got bigger . . . and bigger . . . and biggerto the point where she couldnt fit inside Annas house any longer. It was time for Anna to make the tough decision she always knew she would have to make at some point or another: She would need to reintroduce Samia to the wild so she could lead her life with the rest of her kind.
language: English
title: Rhino in the House: The True Story of Saving Samia
publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers