The One and Only Ivan--Pass the Kleenex

Ivan: The Remarkable Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla

Reading Strategy: Compare/Contrast

Back of the Book:

Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate

Captured as a baby, Ivan was brought to a Tacoma, Washington, mall to attract shoppers. Gradually, public pressure built until a better way of life for Ivan was found at Zoo Atlanta. From the Congo to America, and from a local business attraction to a national symbol of animal welfare, Ivan the Shopping Mall Gorilla traveled an astonishing distance in miles and in impact.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

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.


Using it in the Classroom:

A truly compelling story of determination and animal rights activism. A great way is to read both books and then discuss the true implications of the story and the fantastical story elements. Discuss how the author has incorporated fact into the fictional story and how the illustrations of the true story help the story reach a wider audience.

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