The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate won the Newbery Medal in 2013.  It tells the story of Ivan, a gorilla living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.  He didn't always live there, though.  He used to live in the jungle, and then with humans in their home.  Now, he lives behind glass at the mall, though, he is not alone.  He has his friend Stella, an elderly elephant and a dog named Bob.  He watches TV and he loves to think about art and creating.  When Ruby, a baby elephant arrives at the mall, she begins to ask a lot of questions that cause Ivan to think and wonder about his home, his life and his future.  While this is a work of fiction, it is based on a true story.  Recently, Katherine Applegate wrote an illustrated non-fiction text, Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla. This is the true story of Ivan and would be wonderful to read after you read The One and Only Ivan.