Book Review - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ivan is a gorilla. The One and Only Ivan. The Mighty Silverback. The Ape at Exit 8. The Freeway Gorilla. These are his many names but Ivan is so much more than his names. Ivan is an artist. As a baby, Ivan would dip his hand in the mud and draw pictures on his mother’s back - pictures of the shapes of the clouds and the colors of the flowers he saw. Now he draws pictures with crayons - pictures of banana peels, candy wrappers and apple cores, and the new baby elephant that has moved into the domain next to him. Sometimes Ivan wonders, is he a gorilla or is he a human? Humans don’t have a name for what he is.
I am just going to say I believe everyone can benefit from reading this book. The younger crowd will hear a great story about friendship and promises made and kept. The older ones of us will also be blessed with a story of which will remind us there is good out there and it can be found in many shapes and sizes if we just look. But all will be given a new found appreciation for the things in the world around us and how we (humans) truly affect them.
RECOMMENDED FOR ALL!

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Book Review - A Leaf Can Be ... by Laurie Purdie Salas

A Leaf Can Be... by Laura Purdie Salas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A leaf can be many things. It can be a "shade spiller" or a "mouth filler." This book explores the many aspects of a leaf and all it can be in an enjoyable poetic tour of all things leafy. Accompanied by soft illustrations of cool blues and greens or warm yellows and golds, we glide through the rhythm of the words as if we too are leaves moving on the wind. Reading this book aloud as a bedtime book or to a group will only add to its ability to evoke all those wonderful things a leaf can be.

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