Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller, this stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. 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 twenty-seven 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.

In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope. This paperback edition includes an author's note highlighting the differences between the fictional story and true events, a version of the author's Newbery Medal acceptance speech, Ivan's "signature," discussion questions, and more.

The One and Only Ivan is a strong Common Core title that features these important strands and standards: first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); story elements (plot, character development, perspective).

The one and only Ivan is a book of friendship and love. Ivan lives in a mall with a elephant named Stella and a stray dog named Bob.  Ivan grew up with a man named Mack. Ivan’s a gorilla ,and with no one to share a cage with he’s very lonely. when ruby a baby elephant comes she and Stella hit it off. Stella then passes away now its just him and ruby. Ivan works on a giant picture of the zoo. When Julia finds the picture, her and her dad began to piece  it together. After finding its a zoo , Julia starts to think that Ivan wants to go to the zoo. Then one day a box appears outside of ruby’s cage along with a woman a clickie thing and treats. Soon Ivan finds himself with more space and more gorillas! being safe at the zoo hes still worried about Ruby they soon bring in a T.V. with ruby and more elephants.

I truly enjoyed this book.- E, age 10.