I love this book! I can't say that about all Newbery Award winners. Applegate was inspired by the true story of Ivan, a gorilla who lived most of his life in a shoddy "circus mall" but now resides in the Atlanta Zoo. The story is told by the fictional Ivan, a gentle, intelligent silverback (mature male) gorilla who has lived in the mall since he was a juvenile. He has two animal friends in an elderly elephant named Stella and a small stray dog named Bob. Ivan is also an artist who creates drawings (mostly bananas) with crayon that are sold in the mall gift shop. When business begins to decline Mack, the not-so-nice owner brings in a baby elephant named Ruby to draw more crowds. Stella, the old elephant, does her best to care for the new baby but she is sickly and doesn't want Ruby to end up spending her life in the dreary existence she herself has experienced. Ivan has human friends in George, the caretaker, and his young daughter Julia, also a budding artist. Julia gives Ivan art supplies that lets him expand his work into markers and fingerpaint. Ivan uses his art to fulfill his promise to Stella that he would find a way to get Ruby away from the mall and back with other elephants. Applegate has written a book where you care about all the characters, even Mack the mall owner. Ivan is given a voice that seems believable and, as I read, I couldn't help but think of Robert, the big Orangutan at the St. Louis Zoo who remembers his frequent visitors and will place his palm against the glass to greet them.This just might be a book club selection for next year.
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