Once again I was on a mission to find a photo to match one my cousin sent of a gorilla at the Denver Zoo. Ken and I took the little guys for the morning and I put in an early request to find the gorillas. When this massive guy got up to move right up next to me, I called to Ken to bring the boys back as the space was empty... What was I thinking? In a minute the place was filled with little folk whose reflections on the glass made it impossible to get good photos. I must have taken about 50 and three passed muster "a little bit".
The part about "The Eyes"? In this photo he began looking up, but in the last three, his eyes locked on to mine, and I felt a kindred connection. Maybe I just wanted to believe it, but it was as though he was thinking, "I've tried to help out here..." He certainly did...
If you only read one children's book in your life, make it The One and Only Ivan"
"Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller, this stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendships. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself.
Having spent 27 years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.
The One and Only Ivan was hailed as a best book of the year by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Amazon, demonstrating it is a true classic in the making. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. An author's note depicts the differences between the fictional story and true events."
@allie912 No finer recommendation could be had than from you, a school librarian in what I've come to see as a most exceptional school. I will definitely look for the book until I have a copy. Is it too much for under 5 (in a classroom setting? I'm thinking of the boy's Early Learning Center...) I'll most definitely get it; the family goes to the zoo often...just 12 minutes up the road...and I think they'll love animals the way we all do... Thanks so much Allie!
@Weezilou it is a read-aloud that will enthrall, disturb and eventually uplift the reader. Be warned, There is thoughtlessness and cruelty to animals and the tender-hearted reader will be moved to tears, but of course the ultimate ending is happy. I suggest you read it first to see if your 5 year old can handle it. You will see why your picture made me think of this book.
@allie912 Thanks for the recommendation. I'm always on the lookout for new books. My favourite children's bookshop is in a small village in Norfolk run by an ex librarian called Marilyn Brocklehurst. She would bring the most wonderful collection of books when I ran conferences for teachers.
@timandelke I'll post my second choice photo...the last of 3 like this I shot of him close up. In reconsidering, (and doing some editing to remove the behind-the-glass glare, I like this even better as eye contact was made...
"Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller, this stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendships. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself.
Having spent 27 years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.
The One and Only Ivan was hailed as a best book of the year by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Amazon, demonstrating it is a true classic in the making. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. An author's note depicts the differences between the fictional story and true events."