Applegate, K. (2012). The one and only Ivan. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
From the Publisher:
"This stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine
Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendships.
Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this
illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself. Having
spent 27 years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping
mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever
thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with
television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets
Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their
home, and his art, through new eyes.
The One and Only Ivan was hailed as a best book of the year by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Amazon, demonstrating it is a true classic in the making. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little,
Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's
unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and
hope. An author's note depicts the differences between the fictional
story and true events." (Retrieved 9/10/2017 from Harper Collins)
Awards: Newbery Medal, 2013
From Horn Book Magazine Review:
"'I am Ivan. I am a gorilla. / It's not as easy as it looks.' In short
chapters (the book has an open layout and frequent illustrations) that
have the look and feel of prose poems, Applegate has captured the voice
of Ivan, a captive gorilla who lives at the "Exit 8 Big Top Mall and
Video Arcade." When a new baby elephant, Ruby, arrives, Ivan promises
the old elephant, Stella, that he will take care of her. When Stella
passes away, he realizes that their years of captivity in such a
restrictive environment are not what Ruby deserves. He hatches a daring
plan that involves his own original artwork, a stray dog, the daughter
of the custodian, and a zoo thousands of miles away. Ultimately, his
plan is successful and the captive animals are relocated to the
much-more-humane habitat of the zoo as the pensive, melancholy tone
gives way to hope and joy. The choice to tell this story in the first
person and to personify the gorilla with an entire range of human
thoughts, feelings, and emotions poses important questions to the
reader, not only about what it means to be human but also about what it
means to be a living creature, and what kind of kinship we all share. An
author's note describes the true incident that inspired this story and
includes more information about the real Ivan."
I have selected this book for grades 3-5 in my juvenile fiction collection because it is a great book, and can be the basis of many discussion starters. The main theme of animal rights is not the only deep discussion that this book can lead to. This can also lead to a discussion about "progress," and change. It would be illegal to keep a gorilla or an elephant in a shopping center now. Speaking up and standing for what is right is also something that can be discussed. Was Ivan brave? Was Ivan's friend Julia brave? The publisher web site has a free teaching guide, reading guide, and printable activity guide for download.
Keywords: Animal Rights, Gorillas, Captivity, Elephants
This
book can tie in to the English language arts standards for grades 3-5
beginning on page 70 of the Kentucky Academic Standards.
Hunt, Jonathan. 2012. The one and only ivan. The Horn Book Magazine
88, (1) (Jan): 83,
http://ezproxy.uky.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.uky.edu/docview/912679260?accountid=11836
(accessed December 11, 2017).
Kentucky Department of Education. (2017). Kentucky Academic Standards.
Retrieved September 10, 2017, from
https://education.ky.gov/curriculum/standards/Pages/default.aspx
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