The One and Only Ivan - Kid's Book

My Fourth Grade son has just finished reading the book "The One and Only Ivan" written by Katherine Applegate which is loosely based on real life incidents. This Newberry Medal winner book was recommended at school . Once he put down the book, I picked it up.

This book is all about Ivan, A silverback Gorilla who lives in the indoor domain located at the mall. He never complains, worries or regret about his life. He has (a stray dog) Bob as his room mate. Stella, a wise and composed Elephant living next door. He befriends with the girl named Julia whose father George works as a Janitor at the Mall. The Mall owner Mack treats Ivan as a son.

The situation changes upside down when Stella becomes sick due to her foot injury and a new baby elephant Ruby arrives at the domain. The circumstances force Ivan to become a mighty Silverback who he is really meant to be and how he proves himself forms the rest of the story!!!

I like the way how the Author portrayed  each and every character. No one is evil or no one is 100% noble. She brought out the emotions through various characters which feels real and close to heart.

I noticed how the mindset of the main character Ivan changes throughout the story. At the beginning he was carefree and didn't want to remember the incidents happened to him while he was young. In the middle of the book he cares for Ruby and becomes responsible yet he doesn't do anything drastic as we expect. At the end he lives a life of a mighty Silverback.

The way the characters written and their interactions reminded me of Animation movies. It turns out that this book is also made as a movie. After knowing that I kind of started imaging actors' voices in my head while reading the rest of the book.  

I also enjoyed some of the funny lines Author highlighted via animals. Ivan thinks that humans use words more than needed, humans make louder noises than a gorilla when they are angry. Bob the dog thinks that humans really reek. Ruby the baby elephant says that not all the humans are bad. 

In this book it is shown as that animals are ill-treated by humans for their own profit but the author put that in a subtler way for example she mention between the lines that "Carousal seat belts used to be living breathing cows". At the same time she didn't fail to mention that the betterment of these animals comes through humans only.

My son said that he likes the book but it has too much of drama in it.

Even though it is a children book I doubt that any kid will choose this (300+ pages) book for free reading But we can make them read/listen by sitting with them or read along with them.

Adults or Children It is always good to be in touch with our inner emotion. This book will help you bring out those bundled up emotions effortlessly.

Turn off the screen and Pick up a book once in a while you wouldn't regret it.   

P.S. Do not watch "The one and only Ivan" movie before reading the book.