A #1 New York Times Bestseller
A Newbery Medal Winner
A Christopher Medal Winner
A Gold Medal Winner in Juvenile Literature (California Book Award)
A Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Crystal Kite Award Winner
A School Library Journal Best of Children's Books
A Kirkus Reviews Best of Children's Book
An Amazon Best Book of the Year, Middle Grade
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2012
A New York Public Library 100 Books for Reading and Sharing, 2012
A Cybils shortlist, 2012 Middle Grade Fantasy (Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards)
A Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2013-14 Master List
A 2012 Nerdies Book Award, Middle Grade Fiction
Now an original movie on Disney+
Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he's seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home - and his own art - through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Age Range: 8-12 | Grade Level: 3-7 | Lexile Measure: 570L