Hauntingly beautiful, Poignant, Heartwarming, Bittersweet, Truthful | Reviews: "How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage. … Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author's note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates." Kirkus Reviews "Applegate makes a powerful statement about the treatment of animals–especially those living in captivity–and reminds readers that all creatures deserve a safe place to call home. Castelao's delightful illustrations enhance this lovely story, and the characters will capture readers' hearts and never let go. A must-have." School Library Journal Awards Newbery Award (2013) |
Bibliography:
Applegate, K., & Castelao, P. (2012). The one and only Ivan. New York: Harper.
Applegate, K., & Castelao, P. (2012). The one and only Ivan. New York: Harper.
Reading Level: An AR rating of 3.6 (3rd/4th grade) with an interest level of middle grade (4th-8th grade).
Suggested Delivery: Shared Reading, Read Aloud, or Independent Reading
Summary:
What's life like being a captive at a mall attraction? Well, just listen to the story of Ivan, the silverback gorilla at the Big Top Mall and Arcade. Born in the wild, captured as a child, and placed inside a domain to live. He is content, living his life watching TV and not thinking about his life in the jungle. At least not until the day Ruby came. She brings old memories to the front and gives Ivan someone to fight for. He knows life at the deteriorating Big Top Mall is not the life Ruby deserves. Through his paintings Ivan tries to give Ruby the life she should have. Will Ivan succeed in changing Ruby's future, and his own? Or will they live out their lives at a slowing dying mall with an unknown future?
What's life like being a captive at a mall attraction? Well, just listen to the story of Ivan, the silverback gorilla at the Big Top Mall and Arcade. Born in the wild, captured as a child, and placed inside a domain to live. He is content, living his life watching TV and not thinking about his life in the jungle. At least not until the day Ruby came. She brings old memories to the front and gives Ivan someone to fight for. He knows life at the deteriorating Big Top Mall is not the life Ruby deserves. Through his paintings Ivan tries to give Ruby the life she should have. Will Ivan succeed in changing Ruby's future, and his own? Or will they live out their lives at a slowing dying mall with an unknown future?
Key Vocabulary:
Chest beat (10): continuous slapping of the chest with one or both hands in order to create a loud sound, often used by gorillas to intimidate an opponent
Domain (7): territory, in this case Ivan’s cage
The Grunt (123): a snort used by gorilla parents to express annoyance at their children
Me-ball: (15): dried excrement scooped up into a relatively round shape that is thrown at observers
Not-Tag (16): a toy gorilla Ivan named after his twin sister, Tag (the not part being that the stuffed animal is not Tag)
Silverback (2): an adult male gorilla who has gray/silver hair on his back, silverbacks are the prime authority and are responsible for protecting the gorilla family
Slimy chimp (41): an offensive term for a human that refers to sweat of hairless skin
Vining (127): casual play often used by gorillas where the gorilla swings on a vine or from one vine to another
Vocabulary definitions were formed around the ideas from the glossary presented at the beginning of the book.
Chest beat (10): continuous slapping of the chest with one or both hands in order to create a loud sound, often used by gorillas to intimidate an opponent
Domain (7): territory, in this case Ivan’s cage
The Grunt (123): a snort used by gorilla parents to express annoyance at their children
Me-ball: (15): dried excrement scooped up into a relatively round shape that is thrown at observers
Not-Tag (16): a toy gorilla Ivan named after his twin sister, Tag (the not part being that the stuffed animal is not Tag)
Silverback (2): an adult male gorilla who has gray/silver hair on his back, silverbacks are the prime authority and are responsible for protecting the gorilla family
Slimy chimp (41): an offensive term for a human that refers to sweat of hairless skin
Vining (127): casual play often used by gorillas where the gorilla swings on a vine or from one vine to another
Vocabulary definitions were formed around the ideas from the glossary presented at the beginning of the book.
Before Reading Strategy:
Have students watch the video on the homepage of http://theoneandonlyivan.com. Then, have students make prediction on what they think will happen in the story.
Have students watch the video on the homepage of http://theoneandonlyivan.com. Then, have students make prediction on what they think will happen in the story.
During Reading Strategy:
Before reading, review the website below this paragraph on the facts about the real Ivan. Then create a chart like the one below. Check off characteristics of Ivan from the story the correlate with facts from the real Ivan. Review this chart at the end of each reading sections and check new boxes as you progress through the story.
http://theoneandonlyivan.com
Before reading, review the website below this paragraph on the facts about the real Ivan. Then create a chart like the one below. Check off characteristics of Ivan from the story the correlate with facts from the real Ivan. Review this chart at the end of each reading sections and check new boxes as you progress through the story.
http://theoneandonlyivan.com
The chart is based off of Window Frames from the Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizer. For the complete citation refer to the reference section at the end of this post.
After Reading Strategy:
Have students participate in a book talk. This will allow them to share their feelings about the book and what they did or did not like about it. Since this book has sensitive material, a book talk will allow students to share their opinion about the topic.
Have students participate in a book talk. This will allow them to share their feelings about the book and what they did or did not like about it. Since this book has sensitive material, a book talk will allow students to share their opinion about the topic.
Inferential Comprehension Writing Activity:
Image you are one of the protesters and you are writing a letter to Mack about why you think Ivan and his friends should be moved to a zoo. What would you say to convince Mack? Be sure to include how you feel about the captivity and treatment of Ivan and his friends.
Image you are one of the protesters and you are writing a letter to Mack about why you think Ivan and his friends should be moved to a zoo. What would you say to convince Mack? Be sure to include how you feel about the captivity and treatment of Ivan and his friends.
Electronic Resources to Support/Extend the Text:
This document can be used to generate discussion among the class that included both literal and inferential comprehension questions.
http://files.harpercollins.com/HCChildrens/OMM/Media/OneAndOnlyIvan_DG_4.pdf
The video on the homepage can be used as an initiation to create interest in the story.
The tab “The Real Ivan” can be used to learn more about the real Ivan.
http://theoneandonlyivan.com
This site can be used a follow up the book as an extension on learning facts about gorillas. This will draw in a science aspect of the novel.
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Primates/
This document can be used to generate discussion among the class that included both literal and inferential comprehension questions.
http://files.harpercollins.com/HCChildrens/OMM/Media/OneAndOnlyIvan_DG_4.pdf
The video on the homepage can be used as an initiation to create interest in the story.
The tab “The Real Ivan” can be used to learn more about the real Ivan.
http://theoneandonlyivan.com
This site can be used a follow up the book as an extension on learning facts about gorillas. This will draw in a science aspect of the novel.
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Primates/
This is the video from the home page of the book's website that can be used to introduce the book and generate interest. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded &v=UtPdqV2crQ0 | |
Resources:
Great Apes and Other Primates - National Zoo. (n.d.). Smithsonian's National Zoo. Retrieved May 13, 2013 from http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Primates/.
Jacobson, Jennifer and Dottie Raymer. The big book of reproducible graphic organizers: 50 great templates to help kids get more out of reading, writing, social studies & more. New York: Scholastic Professional Books.
The One and Only Ivan. (n.d.). The one and only Ivan. Retrieved May 13, 2013 from http://theoneandonlyivan.com.
The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate: Discussion guide. (n.d.). N.T.. Retrieved May 13, 2013 from files.harpercollins .com/HCChildrens /OMM/Media/OneAndOnlyIvan_DG_4. pdf.
Great Apes and Other Primates - National Zoo. (n.d.). Smithsonian's National Zoo. Retrieved May 13, 2013 from http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Primates/.
Jacobson, Jennifer and Dottie Raymer. The big book of reproducible graphic organizers: 50 great templates to help kids get more out of reading, writing, social studies & more. New York: Scholastic Professional Books.
The One and Only Ivan. (n.d.). The one and only Ivan. Retrieved May 13, 2013 from http://theoneandonlyivan.com.
The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate: Discussion guide. (n.d.). N.T.. Retrieved May 13, 2013 from files.harpercollins .com/HCChildrens /OMM/Media/OneAndOnlyIvan_DG_4. pdf.