Link: Facts abut Gorillas on the Defenders of Wildlife website Link: Seattle Times article on Ivan finding love (great nonfiction pairing) Link: Here is a personal blog account of the real Ivan at Zoo Atlanta from Words from Willow. Link: Here is an interview with the author at Publisher's Weekly. There is absolutely nothing in this book anti-religious or that children should not be exposed to in order to grow into critical-thinking adults. Censorship by parents exists so I defer to that right (even though I personally take issue with censorship of any kind). Thank You to Author Katherine Applegate for the advanced copy.Īdvisory: Evolutionary theory is professed by Ivan, which I only mention here for parental knowledge. Plot Engagement: Slow to start, great once character investment occurs (fairly quickly)īelievability: Absolute suspension of disbelief for this reader No one is a "bad" guy even though the tale shows some poor choices on the part of humans Themes: Friendship, Courage, Animal Rights, Artistic AestheticsĬharacter Development: Perfect. However, based upon true situation of a gorilla named Ivan now living at Zoo Atlanta Highly recommended for all elementary and middle classrooms and libraries. The One and Only Ivan is very simply a story that makes you wiser for having read it. So many adjectives flood my thoughts as I try to describe the beauty of this book - poignant, convincing, bittersweet. The fact that you are being told the taleįrom a gorilla’s point of view is one of the most forceful elements of the writing, and the writing is excellent. The poetic voice of Ivan the silverback gorilla is profound, authentic and, when needed, humorous.
One you know will be on the shortlist for a Newbery. One you know will garner all sorts of glowing reviews. My Thoughts: The One and Only Ivan is one of those books. Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home - and his own art - through new eyes. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line. Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he's seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. Publisher's Blurb: Ivan is an easygoing gorilla.
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