The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan is the story of Ivan, a gorilla who lives in a circus themed shopping mall.  Ivan loves art.  His best human friend introduced him to drawing and his master sells his pictures in the gift shop.  After his friend and elderly elephant dies and a baby elephant is brought into the mall Ivan uses his art to rescue his new friend so they can go live someplace better, a zoo.

This is a very touching and sad book based on a true story.  The characters both animal and human are all well written and varied.  The book makes the reader both sad and happy at the same time and has a fantastic ending.  It teaches compassion in the same way that Wilbur did in Charlotte's web.  I loved this book and finished it quickly.

Appropriateness:  This book is filled with simple languages and short sentences and has many pictures without having the feel of being a book written for very young children.  I would recommend this book for readers 8-12

Review copy provided by amazon vine