The One and Only Ivan

April has been designated Pets Are Wonderful Month (PAWS), which all pets are, of course. As I write, my dear Lance snoozes not far from my feet. They provide inspiration and attention. People have kept all kinds of animals, as pets or objects of curiosity, over the years. And the treatment of these animals lies at the heart of a new book by Katherine Applegate, The One and Only Ivan.

Ivan, a silverback gorilla captured in the wild, lived as a house pet for a time and was then transferred to a roadside shopping mall where he became a visitor’s attraction. He stays in a small, caged area, next to the elephant Stella, who tells him stories. Just as Michael Morpurgo did in War Horse, Applegate tells the story completely from the point of view of an animal, Ivan. Although this is a difficult writing choice for an author, Applegate has carried out the idea with great finesse.

Like many gorillas, Ivan understands a great deal of human communication, and he loves to create art. Some of his rudimentary paintings sell in the gift shop. But he also paints for his own pleasure and hides these drawings in his cave. When a baby elephant Ruby comes to the compound, and Stella dies, Ivan vows to care for her and save the child. And so he uses his communication skills to convince some sympathetic humans that he and Ruby deserve a better fate.

With detailed black and white drawings by Patricia Castelao, The One and Only Ivan creates several compelling characters, most of them animals, who become quite dear to the reader. Ivan and Stella’s stories of being captured in the wild and losing their families are told in a very moving way. Inspired by the real story of Ivan, a gorilla who lives in the Atlanta Zoo, The One and Only Ivan raises all kinds of issues about the appropriate treatment of wild animals in human zoos. For that reason it has already been tremendously successful in book discussion groups for readers ages eight through twelve. It also makes a fabulous book to read aloud to this age group.

As a book The One and Only Ivan gives me reason to celebrate: it is crafted with great creativity, an original approach, and has something to say to children. Books for children are clearly not an endangered species; The One and Only Ivan proves that they are alive and well!

Here’s a passage from The One and Only Ivan:

Ruby stands alone. The bright lights make her blink. She flaps her ears. She makes her tiny trumpet sound.

The humans stop eating their popcorn. They coo. They clap.

Ruby is a hit.

I don’t know whether to be happy or sad.