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The One and Only Ivan  By  cover art

The One and Only Ivan

By: Katherine Applegate, Patricia Castelao
Narrated by: Adam Grupper
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Publisher's summary

Soon to be a major motion picture!

Winner of the Newbery Medal and a number one New York Times best seller

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 novel is told from the point of view of Ivan himself. This acclaimed middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. It’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.

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.

Plus don't miss The One and Only Bob, Katherine Applegate's return to the world of Ivan, Bob, and Ruby!

©2012 Katherine Applegate (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers
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Featured Article: The Best Family Audiobooks for All Ages


Sharing stories with your family can leave a lasting impression. As a parent, you probably remember the magic of having a book read aloud to you as a kid, and family audiobooks offer that same experience for your own children. Whether you’re looking to help increase literacy or discover the joy of group listening, our list has some of the best family audiobooks, from best sellers to newcomer favorites. Here are the best family audiobooks.

What listeners say about The One and Only Ivan

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Excellent

My two boys and I loved this - wonderful story and great reader! We are looking forward to reading additional stories by this author.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Made me cry

is the most touching thing in the world

It Shows us how actions can change life

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  • Overall
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The story and the fact that it was all a true story

The story was AWSOME and I loved it and it was all a real story which is awsome

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  • Overall
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  • Ed
  • 09-03-13

Very nice story

I often listen/read kids' books with my 10-year-old daughter and usually like them. The One and Only Ivan was no exception. It's one of this year's Sunshine State Books for 3rd-5th graders. They (Florida education officials) select 15 books each year and we've yet to come across one that hasn't been excellent. This book teaches about kindness and the importance of "peer" interaction. The chapters in the book were numerous and short. The story snippets were organized and easy to follow. Everything blended together well. Listen (and read along) with your kid. You will both enjoy the experience.

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103 people found this helpful

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Fabulous Story for all ages.

Made me laugh, made me cry and couldn't wait to see what happened next. Good read.

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14 people found this helpful

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Amazing book to listen to with your children!!

We listened to this during a car trip and my 9 and 5 year olds were enthralled by the story!

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Story a little slow

The story was good, but a little slow, and predictable. I did enjoy listening to it while working around the house. The narrator was excellent and pleasant to listen too.

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The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan was a great book I really loved it. I would recommend this book to anyone I know it is a great book and very interesting to listen too. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Thank you.

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  • Overall
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Incredible book for adults and kids

I would give 6 stars if I could. Listened with my 11 yr old son and it couldn't have been better. Funny, gripping, touching.

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  • Overall
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Touching and Heartfelt

My whole family loved this book! We listened to the whole thing on a road trip and couldn’t wait to get back in the car after each stop. I would definitely recommend it and the ending was wonderful!

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