The One and Only Ivan

by Katherine Applegate

Other authors: Patricia Castelao (Illustrator)

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: The One and Only (1)

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8,878	405	993	(4.31)	166
When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.

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A Dogʼs Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin (BookshelfMonstrosity)
BookshelfMonstrosity: These tender, wistful stories of survival are told from an animal's perspective -- stray pooch, Squirrel, and captured gorilla, Ivan. While humans both help and hinder them during their long struggles, they find hope (and secure homes) in the end.… (more)

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▾Member reviews

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3-5, Level 4
Awards/Honors: Newbery Medal

hannahholley | Dec 6, 2024 |

Independent Reading Level: Grades 4-6 (ages 9-12) Guided Reading Level: T
Awards/Honors: Newbery Medal (2013)
ALA Notable Children's Book
Booklist Editors Choice
Junior Library Guild Selection

msirmans | Nov 30, 2024 |

Independent Reading Levels: Grades 3-5
Awards: Newberry Medal (2013), ALA Notable Children's Book (2013), and School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2013)

kbgill | Nov 30, 2024 |

Newbery medal, scholastic gold award (

)

clgandy | Nov 29, 2024 |

Independent Reading Level: 8-12
Awards: Newbery Medal

katiemcneely | Nov 20, 2024 |

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▾Other authors

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Applegate, Katherine	—	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Castelao, Patricia	Illustrator	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Baldinucci, Loredana	Translator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

The One and Only (1)

Is contained in

Newbery Award Favorite Library 8 Book Box Set : Charlotte's Web, The One and Only Ivan, Ella Enchanted, Dragonwings by E. B. White

Has the adaptation

The One and Only Ivan [2020 film] by Thea Sharrock

Has as a student's study guide

The One and Only Ivan by K. A. Applegate l Summary & Study Guide by BookRags

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee – Grades 6-9 – 2014)

Blue Hen Book Award (Nominee – Middle Readers – 2016)

Bluestem Award (Winner – 2015)

Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Honor Book – 2015)

Cocheco Readers' Award (Winner)

Commonwealth Club of California Book Awards (Gold Medal – Juvenile – 2012)

E.B. White Read-Aloud Award (Honor Book – Middle Reader – 2013)

Flicker Tale Award (Winner – Intermediate Books – 2013)

Garden State Children's Book Award (Winner – Fiction, Grades 2-5 – 2015)

Golden Archer Award (Nominee – Intermediate – 2014)

Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee – Intermediate – 2015)

Great Lakes Great Books Award (Winner – 4th & 5th Grade – 2014)

Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee – 2013)

Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee – Grades 3-5 – 2014)

Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Winner – 2016)

Mitten Award (Honor – 2012)

Newbery Medal (Medal Winner – 2013)

North Carolina Children's Book Award (Winner – Junior Book – 2016)

Nutmeg Book Award (Winner – Intermediate – 2016)

Nēnē Award (Nominee – 2014, 2015, 2016)

Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Winner – Upper Elementary School Division – 2015)

Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee – Junior – 2015)

Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Winner – Grades 3-6 – 2014)

Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee – 2015)

Rhode Island Children's Book Award (Nominee – 2014)

SCBWI Crystal Kite Award (US: California/Hawaii – 2013)

Sequoyah Book Award (Winner – Children's – 2015)

Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee – Grades 3-5 – 2014)

Surrey Schools’ Book of the Year (Winner – 2014)

Texas Bluebonnet Award (Nominee – 2014)

Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)

Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee – 2014)

Virginia Readers' Choice (Winner – Elementary – 2014)

Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee – Intermediate – 2015)

West Virginia Children's Choice Book Award (Nominee – 2013-2014)

Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Award (First runner-up – 2014)

Notable Lists

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▾Common Knowledge

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Canonical title

The One and Only Ivan

Original title

Alternative titles

L'unico e insuperabile Ivan

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

It is never too late to be

what you might have been.

--George Eliot

Dedication

for Julia

First words

I am Ivan. I am a gorilla. It's not as easy as it looks.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

The One and Only Ivan

▾Book descriptions

When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.

▾Library descriptions

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▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.

Haiku summary