Applegate, Katherine The One and Only Ivan, 304 pgs. Harper Collins, 2012. $16.99 Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence PG.
Ivan is a silverback gorilla who is the centerpiece of a small circus contained inside a mall/arcade. His best friends are a stray dog and an elephant. But when the circus starts losing money, Max, the owner, buys a baby elephant to help bring back the crowds.
Written from the viewpoint of the gorilla, the one sentence paragraphs make the text a bit choppy, but the story is beautiful. The animals talking to each other was as natural as Wilbur and Charlotte. I loved this Newbery winner! Although the cover looks elementary, this book would also be enjoyed in a middle school library. Lots of great life lessons.
EL, MS - ESSENTIAL Lisa Librarian
No comments:
Post a Comment