The One and Only Ivan: A Gentle Friendship Story About Patience, Kindness, and Everyday Adventures Together

This book won the Newbery Medal for Children's Literature in 2013, and it was much deserved. Here's what the book has going for it: 1. The Targeted age of the reader: In recent years people have complained that the Newbery Medal was being awarded to books that were for an older demographic, like older teenagers. I'm not sure I agree with that, because when you read the earlier Newbery Medal books you can tell by the vocabulary and subject matter that the intent has always been for these books to enrich the young reader regardless of age. With that said, Ivan is a book that has a slightly younger age group in mind. Which is important as it will introduce the young reader to great stories spurring them on to try to read more Newbery Medal books. 2. The story is based on a true story. Ivan was real! The main parts of the story are true. This would be a great school book for a young, say 5th grade, class to read, and then research the true story. A simple Google search will turn up all kinds of information about the real Ivan, pictures and all. In turn this information could be used in projects and presentations. 3. I love the characters! I truly enjoyed getting to know every character presented in the story. From the animals to the humans, each one has a great personality that I really enjoyed. My two favorite characters were the young girl, Julia and the dog, Bob. The author could easily write more books about Ivan, and Julia and Bob. 4. The illustrations are nice, and very contemporary. What I didn't Like: 1. The book is separated out, but not into chapters. I wish she had done that. I really felt a "Charlotte's Web" vibe to this book. The plot and characters have some similarities that just made the book overall enjoyable to read. I recently heard that Disney has bought the movie rights to this story, and I hope that's correct. It would make a great movie!

This is by far one of the BEST children’s books I read as an adult. Sad, heartbreaking, joyful, playful, full of hope. It makes you sit down and read and read until you get to the very end and find out what it means to have courage and believe in yourself. Rooting for Ivan, Stella, Ruby and Bob is so heartwarming from beginning to the end.

My kid watched the movie in class and asked me to buy the book. She loves it

This book is great to use for a book study with upper elementary students. I bought several copies to use with my students this past school year. It looks quite long, but since many chapters are actually very short it allows struggling readers to get through it and feel more confident. When we finished the book study, I had the students watch the movie to compare/contrast different elements...they quickly learned that the book is always better! :D

The One and Only Ivan was just the bittersweet book I needed when I was dealing with a stressful week. I read it in about one day because I could not put it down. The whole story felt like a work of art about a gorilla who makes art. The voice was such a cute, appealing, and engaging one. The format it's told in is kind of a journal that makes you see the world the way Ivan, the gorilla, does. You really get to know him and how sweet he is which makes it all the more tear jerking when you learn some of the horrible things that happened to him. The One and Only Ivan is a book I could see kids liking. Ivan, the gorilla, loves to draw simple things and eat his crayons...and sometimes his art. But the writing was so poetic and beautiful I enjoyed it immensely as an adult. "He goes back to work. His mop moves across the empty food court like a giant brush, painting a picture no one will ever see." - Katherine Applegate, The One and Only Ivan pg 233 It was the ultimate showing not telling and it sucked me right in. And the art inside was just as beautiful as the writing. It looked stunning even on my kindle and it looks even better in the print version. The animal characters are all full of personality. I found each of them wonderful and very caring - even the sarcastic homeless dog. I really liked Stella, the elephant, and she had my favorite quote from the book: "I always tell the truth," Stella replies. "Although I sometimes confuse the facts." - Katherine Applegate, The One and Only Ivan pg 66 The impossible task that Ivan tries to achieve reminded me of Finding Nemo and how impossible it sounded for a fish to escape a fish tank and go back to the ocean. I was rooting for Ivan hard and hoping with everything I had that he would overcome. Just when I was teary eyed enough, I read the Author's Note about how The One and Only Ivan was inspired by a true story. She embellished of course, but definitely not as much as you'd think. Very much of this story is similar to what happened to a real gorilla. Someone get me some tissues. Was I really having a stressful week? I've forgotten what it was. Overall, this was a work of art about hope and the sad reality of animal cruelty that was brought up in a beautiful way that children could relate to and understand.

Great book for kids! My son chose this book for his summer reading, and loved it!

Great

I bought "The One and Only Ivan" for my 7-year-old son, and it has quickly become one of the most meaningful books in his collection. As a young reader who loves animals, he was completely captivated by Ivan’s voice and his journey from a shopping mall enclosure to finding true friendship and hope. The story is beautifully written—simple enough for a Grade 2 student to read, yet profound enough to spark deep conversations about kindness, freedom, and how we treat animals. My son felt a real connection to the characters, especially the bond between Ivan and the baby elephant, Ruby. It’s rare to find a book that touches a child’s heart so deeply while also being such an engaging page-turner. This Newbery Award winner is a "must-have" for any child's library. Whether your kid is an animal lover or just enjoys a great story with a big heart, this book is a true treasure.

Wonderful book for kids. Well packaged and delivered promptly.

Splendido libro per bambino . Rilegato bene , caratteri grandi e la storia è entusiasmante . Consigliato per i bimbi . Niente da dire .

To be 100% honest, it was not for the positive reviews that I started reading this book, but for the negative ones: there is a particular review about "how this book made my infant child cry..." and I confess, a child's book with the potential to make you cry is everything I look for when reading. To my delight, the writing on this book is rather rich in content, yet economical in its words, just like the gorilla Ivan would want it. This book is a masterpiece in its simplicity, with its rather wit vocabulary and, at the same time, simple word games, the end may not have exceeded my expectations, but those are really hard to meet, and yet I know, what I read couldn't be any different from what is written here, otherwise, it wouldn't be honest

The One and Only Ivan Katherine Applegate’s *The One and Only Ivan* is a poignant tale that deeply explores the emotions and struggles of animals confined in captivity. Central to the story is Ivan, a silverback gorilla who has spent 9855 days in a zoo, experiencing the profound loneliness that comes with being isolated from his natural habitat and fellow creatures. The word "alone" resonates not just with him but serves as a poignant reminder of the pain and emotional vacuum that many zoo animals endure. Through Ivan’s narrative, we see him represent all animals who suffer the trauma of losing their loved ones to poaching or those who are trapped in a life far removed from the wild. When Ivan catches a glimpse of another gorilla on television, his world shifts; he realizes that he is not the only one of his kind. This revelation leads to sleepless nights consumed with thoughts of the other gorillas, sparking a desire for connection and freedom that runs deep within him. Ivan shares his world with his companions: Stella, an elephant bearing scars from her days in the circus, and Bob, a stray dog. The bond among these characters is incredibly touching, depicting the depths of their friendship as they navigate life within the confines of the zoo. Their emotional struggles evoke a sense of empathy, especially when young Ruby, another elephant, enters their lives, serving as a reminder of the innocence lost in a world of captivity. The story captures the heart-wrenching moments of Stella’s decline and her final wishes for Ivan to protect Ruby, which underscores the sacrifices made for love and friendship. The risks Ivan takes to fulfill Stella’s promise are both noble and heart-wrenching, revealing his internal conflict between comfort and the yearning for freedom. The zoo, portrayed as a prison, offers a fabricated sense of socializing, yet for Ivan, the wild remains a haunting memory that fades each day. Amidst these profound themes, Applegate weaves moments of tenderness, such as the sweet bond shared between animals. The imagery of one animal pulling a bug from another's fur exemplifies the simplicity and beauty of companionship—a stark contrast to the harsh realities they face. *The One and Only Ivan* is a deeply emotional narrative that sends a powerful message about the importance of freedom, the bonds of friendship, and the innate desire for a life that can be fully lived. It encourages readers to reflect on the treatment of animals and ignites a passion for compassion. This story is not just for children; it is a profound reminder to all of us of the importance of empathy and a call to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Never judge a book by its cover - I did. The cover is charming and is the reason I was drawn to it. I must admit, it took me a little while to get into the book. It is written in an unusual way - very short paragraphs of one or two sentences, which at first felt disjointed. But bear with it. The story is told from the point of view of Ivan, a silver-back gorilla who is kept in a cage 'domain' in a shopping mall. He watches as life passes him by along with his few companions. He has trouble remembering anything much from his past and relies on Stella the elephant to do this. One day a new baby elephant arrives and she begins to change Ivan's outlook. This is a charming story, providing an interesting insight of how life might be if you were a captive gorilla. Its a tale of friendship, determination and hope. It as a joy to read and would appeal to older readers who are interested in animals (it is based on some true facts) and protecting them.