When his work is complete, he relies on Julia to understand what he is trying to do, and George to make it happen. Each night, Ivan adds to the giant painting, creating many pages that will be put together like a puzzle. The problem is that Ivan is a gorilla, and locked in a cage. He decides that he is going to paint a zoo for Ruby, with the word “home” on the painting, and somehow get the giant painting on the big billboard for all to see. When Julia gives Ivan, her fellow artist, some finger paints and lots of paper, Ivan comes up with a plan. Before she dies, Stella asks Ivan to promise that he will save Ruby, that he will not let her end up like Stella Ivan promises his dear friend that he will do just that. Readers learn more about Ivan’s past when he tells Ruby stories of his younger years to cheer her up. When Stella dies suddenly in the night, Ruby and the others are heartbroken. However, as time goes on, Stella’s infection worsens and Mack cannot afford a veterinarian. Stella seems happier now that she has a purpose, and Ruby feels comforted by Stella as her mother figure. Ruby and Stella bond right away, like mother and daughter. When Mack realizes that Ivan isn’t bringing in as much business as he used to, he buys a baby elephant named Ruby, hoping to draw in more people. She often gives him paper and crayons so he can draw, and Mack sells them at the gift shop for $20.00 ($25.00 with a frame). When Julia joins her father at work, she sits by Ivan to do her homework. Ivan spends his days watching TV and looking out at the world around him, wondering what it would be like to be free.

Three times a day, Mack, the owner of the Big Top Mall, puts on a show for the visitors many of the animals strut around and perform for the crowd. Julia, the human daughter of George, is the custodian at the Big Top Mall. Bob, a wiry, silly, and friendly dog, loves to sleep on Ivan’s stomach at night.

Stella, an older former circus elephant with an injured foot, is wise and caring. He remembers his family fondly, but doesn’t miss life in the jungle one bit. Having lived at the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade for 27 years, he has grown accustomed to his life behind the glass. Ivan is an easy going silverback gorilla. What are the main themes of this story?.What does Ivan promise Stella, and how does he keep that promise?.What are some of the challenges that Ivan faces?.Essential Questions for The One and Only Ivan

One and only ivan novel