The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Thursday, May 10, 2012
Julie Hembree is a stupendous teacher-librarian at a K-6 school near Seattle, Washington. The one and only Katherine Applegate spent an afternoon in Julie's school library. I invited her to chat with me in a Google document about Katherine's visit. Thankfully, she accepted the invitation.

I wrote the words in red.

*We prepared for Katherine Applegate’s visit by reading Ivan in classes and watching our book trailer.


*You should read The One and Only Ivan because it is an extraordinary story that will touch your heart.

*Katherine Applegate told my students she felt compelled to tell Ivan’s story after reading a newspaper clipping.

*The One and Only Ivan cake was a delicious gift shared by Katherine and eight students.


*Ivan is now 52 and lives happily at Zoo Atlanta with other gorillas!


*My students will always remember that anyone can write. For ideas, ask yourself, “what if?”

*Author visits allow students to connect with authors and understand they are real people too!


* Mr. Schu, you should have asked me about how Katherine wrote to us and asked to visit our school!

Thank you, Julie, for your commitment to children and school libraries.




Borrow The One and Only Ivan from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.