The One and Only Family (The One and Only Ivan)

Katherine Applegate, The One and Only Family (The One and Only Ivan), HarperCollins Publishers, October 2024, 272 pp., RRP $17.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780008702465

This heartfelt sequel continues the journey of Ivan, now the resident silverback at a wildlife sanctuary, where he enjoys life with his mate, Kinyani, elephant friend Ruby and canine-buddy, Bob.

Life changes in an instant when Ivan and Kinyani welcome twins into their family. Soon, the joys and challenges of parenthood evoke good and bad memories for Ivan, whose children are unlikely to ever know life outside the sanctuary walls. Naturally, Ivan wants to shield them from the harsh realities of the world, but Kinyani has a different take, gently urging that the job of parents is to prepare their children for the world.

Narrated by Ivan, this poignant tale effortlessly blends humour and adventure, while crafting entertaining, relatable parallels between gorilla and human parenting. Applegate shows us that families don’t always look the same, but other connections we make can be just as profound and meaningful. The author’s lyrical style is rich in imagery and emotion, and I defy readers not to well up when navigating these pages about love and resilience, home, and what it means to be a family.

The One and Only Family is thought to be the final instalment in a series that includes The One and Only Ivan, The One and Only Bob and The One and Only Ruby, yet I can easily imagine the story continuing with the next generation of silverbacks.

A charming, heartfelt tale for readers age 8+ and the perfect ending to a popular series.

Reviewed by Maura Pierlot

 

 

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