The One and Only Ivan: A Harper Classic

When my 11-year-old finished reading this novel, his first statement was, “I LOVED that book!” With an endorsement like that and because it was the first instance where he ‘stopped time,’ I had to read the book too.A copy of the author’s Newbery Medal acceptance speech is at the back of my copy of The One and Only Ivan. In it, the author says,” We live in a world where children are bullied into despair and even suicide; where armed guards in a school hallway are considered desirable; where libraries are padlocked because of budget cuts; where breakfast and backpacks, for too many children are unaffordable luxuries.”“What makes children better than the rest of us is that they are buoyant, unrepentant optimists.”As a writer, reader, and lover of words, I make it a habit to ‘stop time’ whenever I come across sparkling phrases that deserve homage. A ‘stop time’ is where we stop whatever we are doing to read out loud and to listen; we listen to both the author’s words and to what made that phrase so meaningful to the reader.Although my son and I read the same book, our reactions to it were as different as a carefree stroll through the park and being caught in a traffic snarl in the city at rush hour. Where my son delighted in the animal conversations, I sobbed.Pixar uses humor with double meaning brilliantly in their storytelling. Katherine Applegate uses the same technique, but in a more realistic vein.I sobbed because the adult world my son will live in doesn’t have easy answers. It isn’t colorful, silly, and happy all the time. The innocence of his childhood is beginning to seep away.While Ivan and Ruby soothe each other and tell stories to help them sleep, the author communicates the ache of loneliness, coping skills, feeling boxed in, and the power that is found when helping a friend…or your own child.The first ‘stop time’ that my son called happened when Ivan makes an impossible promise to Ruby, the baby elephant.I’ve been waiting and watching for this moment. A maturity level that notices deeper concepts. An opportunity to share family ideals and values. An easing into the world of adulthood – or at least into the turbulent teens.“Children know all about sadness,” comments Applegate in her speech. “We can’t hide it from them. We can only teach them how to cope with its inevitably and to harness their imaginations in search for joy and wonder.”

My 9 year old son could never "get into" a book. But he wanted to, desperately. I found this book and surprised him with it. He was so excited because it was "big" and had more than 100 pages lol. You see, it was a goal of his to read something "big". This book, I can not say enough about it. It sparked something in him and he read, and read, and read some more. He FINISHED this book in one week! He connected with the character (Ivan) and was emotionally pulled into the story. He then had to learn all he could about this gorilla. Because of how my son loved it, he said it was 5 stars.This book was written from the gorilla's (Ivan's) point of view. It is a bigger book, but don't be alarmed as there are not many words on a page as the formatting is not as tight as a traditional novel. But don't let that stop you either!It is now my son's favorite book. Because of that, and what that means, I give it 5 stars.

There are some books that so delight a reader that she just wants to shout it out from the rooftops, READ THIS BOOK! Such is the case with The One and Only Ivan, written by the author Katherine Appelgate, previously unknown to me and now a favorite. At the risk of sounding overly effusive, this book is heartwarming, soul touching, totally engaging, while not being at all overly sentimental. It has elements of distress as well, because it is written with an intelligent, careful realism without being preachy about the rights of animals in this world in which we live.The book is presumably a children's book and I would agree it is such in the same way that The Little Prince is meant for children. What makes a wonderful book even more wonderful is that it contains a few lovely pictures, some drawn by Ivan, the protagonist Gorilla and some drawn by the daughter of the groundskeeper where Ivan and his fellow animal friends reside. I cannot guarantee that you will love The One and Only Ivan, as I did, but if you do, you will remember it forever,

I read the book before I gave it as a Christmas gift to my little nephew. The reading level is appropriate for an average American 3rd grade kid, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well structured the plot is, the beautiful simplicity of the language, and the underlying thread of compassion among all characters big and small. It's the best children's book since EB White's Charlotte's Web.

First, my daughter is a reluctant reader. I am not sure she has ever completely read a novel from front to back in her life. She was required to read a book for a book report in school. I told her to read 50 pages each day; on the second day, she came out of her room after an hour to get a drink and said, "Mom, this book is great! I am on page 150!" After another hour, she came out with a huge smile on her face and said it was the best story she has ever read! As an avid reader myself, I have never understood why she hates to read. Now I know she has just never read the RIGHT book to get her hooked!In addition, I am a 5th grade teacher. In my school, we have daily Book Clubs. I have been reading The One and Only Ivan with my students for 3 years and their reactions are exactly like my daughter's. Katherine Applegate is an amazing author! I love how Ivan, the gorilla, is the narrator; this gives the reader a great inside look into his thoughts and feelings. You easily fall in love with each of the characters and build compassion for each one. I highly recommend this book for any elementary student!