Ivan: A Gorilla's True Story

by Katherine Applegate, G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

Overview

The real-life inspiration for The One and Only Ivan. A gorilla 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. In a spare, powerful text and evocative illustrations, Newbery medalist Katherine Applegate and artist G. Brian Karas present the extraordinary real story of this special gorilla.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358417460
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/23/2020
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Katherine Applegate’s many children's books include the Newbery Award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan, the bestselling novels Wishtree and Crenshaw, the bestselling Animorphs series, and the picture books Ivan and The Buffalo Storm. She lives in California. Visit her online at katherineapplegate.com and on Twitter at @kaauthor.

G. Brian Karas is the award-winning author and illustrator of many acclaimed picture books. He lives in upstate New York. Visit him online at briankaras.com and on Twitter @gBrianKaras.

Editorial Reviews

"Gently paced, with moving but reassuring images, this is an age-appropriate introduction to the issues of captivity and animal welfare."  — Kirkus Reviews

“Applegate's spare text gives readers just enough grounding to follow Ivan's journey, while Karas's artwork fills in Ivan's emotional life through the gorilla's engaged expressions and body language—no image more triumphant than Ivan's release into Zoo Atlanta. A heartfelt tribute to a magnificent animal.” — Shelf Awareness, starred review  

"The text is streamlined but powerful, and younger kids who aren’t up for the linguistic and emotional challenges of Applegate’s fictional account of Ivan will find this a thoughtful and intriguing introduction; older readers who have read The One and Only Ivan may enjoy it as well."  — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher