The One and Only Ivan

A silverback gorilla named Ivan narrates his life story from inside a glass enclosure at the Big Top Mall, where he has lived for decades performing in shows with other animals. He spends his days watching TV, creating art that gets sold in the gift shop, and interacting with his closest companions - an elderly elephant named Stella and a stray dog named Bob. The arrival of Ruby, a baby elephant, disrupts the established routines at the mall. Ruby's presence forces Ivan to confront the reality of their confined existence and catalyzes his determination to fulfill an important promise. Based on a true story, The One and Only Ivan examines themes of friendship, freedom, and the complex relationship between humans and animals in captivity. The novel's straightforward yet perceptive narration invites readers to consider questions about responsibility, dignity and what makes a home.

Readers connect deeply with Ivan's voice and perspective, with many noting the emotional impact despite the simple writing style. Parents and teachers report that children remain engaged throughout, while adults find equal meaning in the story. Likes: - Short chapters make it accessible for young readers - Tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity - Black and white illustrations enhance the narrative - Works well as a read-aloud book - Based on true events adds emotional weight Dislikes: - Some find the pacing too slow in the first half - A few readers expected more complexity from a Newbery winner - Multiple reviews mention it being "sadder than expected" for young children Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (222,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (12,000+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 (parents), 4/5 (kids) "The sparse text carries more weight than verbose paragraphs could," notes one teacher reviewer on Amazon. "My students couldn't put it down," reports another.

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🦍 The real Ivan, who inspired this story, lived at Zoo Atlanta until his passing in 2012 and was known as "The Shopping Mall Gorilla" after spending 27 years on display at a mall in Tacoma, Washington. 🎨 Like his fictional counterpart, the actual Ivan enjoyed painting and created numerous works of art that were sold in the gift shop of the mall where he lived. 📚 Katherine Applegate wrote over 250 drafts of the book before finalizing the version that would go on to win the 2013 Newbery Medal. 🎥 Disney+ adapted the book into a film in 2020, featuring the voices of Sam Rockwell as Ivan and Angelina Jolie as Stella the elephant. 🐘 The story's themes of animal welfare contributed to increased public awareness about the ethics of keeping animals in shopping mall displays, a practice that has since largely disappeared in the United States.