The True Story of the One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is a beautiful story of the friendship that saves a gorilla named Ivan and a baby elephant named Ruby. However, one of the most intriguing parts of this elegant novel is that Ms. Applegate based this story on a real gorilla who lived 27 years in a Washington shopping mall in a 14' x 14' concrete cage. This powerpoint gives your students the history of the real Ivan--from his birth in the Congo to his rescue and later life in Zoo Atlanta. It includes numerous photographs of Ivan, pictures of his environments and his real artwork, and some thought-provoking quotes on animals in captivity. The information is fully referenced so students can visit the websites used to tell Ivan's story.