Comments for The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan: 02/21/14

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate earned the 2013 Newbery award. Narrated by a lowland gorilla, Ivan, it's the story of how he helps save a baby elephant from a life of captivity in a strip mall circus.

Applegate, best known for the Animorphs series, gives Ivan a simple, matter of fact way of speaking that brings to mind the recorded sign language conversations of Koko the gorilla. He recounts both his childhood and as well as the present time, where Ruby arrives.

Together with Ivan's narration, there are beautiful illustrations by Patricia Castelao. ALthough there is an audio book, I opted for print this time because the book is just crying out for pictures and text together. As the book is so short and so heavily illustrated, it would do well as a class read along.

The book would also make an excellent animated film. In that regard, children who enjoyed Curious George 2: Follow that Monkey! will enjoy this book.

Five stars

Comments (0)