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. Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship art and hope.
