Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla

by Katherine Applegate, G. Brian Karas

In this evocative, accessible picture book, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Katherine Applegate tells the true story of the gorilla who inspired her Newbery-winning novel The One and Only Ivan. The real Ivan, known as the Shopping Mall Gorilla, lived alone in a small cage for almost thirty years before he was finally relocated to the gorilla habitat at ZooAtlanta. Back matter includes photographs of Ivan.

  • Format: eBook
  • ISBN-13/ EAN: 9780544465572
  • ISBN-10: 0544465571
  • Pages: 40
  • Publication Date: 10/07/2014
  • Carton Quantity: 1
About the Book
About the Authors
Reviews
  • About the Book
    In a spare, powerful text and evocative illustrations, the Newbery medalist Katherine Applegate and the artist G. Brian Karas present the extraordinary real story of a special 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.
         This is his true story and includes photographs of Ivan in the back matter.
  • About the Author

    Katherine Applegate

    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

    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 www.gbriankaras.com and on Twitter @gBrianKaras.

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

    —Kirkus 

     

    "Using pencilline drawing and washes of pastel, Karas feelingly depicts Ivan’s gentle and loving personality conveying how this gentle gorilla won the hearts of thousands of people—and readers." 

    —Booklist 

     

    "Karas's darkly hued, smudgy illustrations complement the tone of the narrative and convey the sense of loneliness and isolation that marked the gorilla's existence." 

    —School Library Journal 

     

    "The spareness of both text and pictures invites readers to find their own meaning in the moving story." 

    —Horn Book Magazine 

     

    "Karas's muted illustrations capably reflect the contrasts between Ivan's happy early life in Africa, his gloomy years in captivity, and his eventual transfer to a new home." 

    —Publishers Weekly 

     

    “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

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