The nice thing about being home alone is that I get to catch up on blogging while watching The View. And lucky me, it's a Day of Hot Topics! My favorite!
After sitting on the waiting list for MONTHS, I squealed with excitement to see The One and Only Ivan in my mailbox at work last week. I immediately abandoned my other books to read this one because after reading about it on your blogs for the past year, I knew I'd love it!
I'm an animal lover. Well... I'm a mammal lover. Slimy, scaly things don't do it for me, but I've always been fascinated by apes. In fact, if I make it to the zoo tomorrow, I funny intend to spend most of my day in the ape habitats, whether or not J agrees. :) When I was really young, my favorite book was Koko's Kitten. Remember that one? Yeah... I taught myself the ASL alphabet because I wanted to sign like Koko. True story.In addition to being completely enthralled by all things ape, I'm one of those people who talks to my dogs like they understand what I'm saying. So, of course I loved that this story was narrated by a gorilla... because who wouldn't want to be inside a gorilla's head?! And a gorilla who thinks he's an artist? Be still my heart!
This story would be an easy read for most of my middle schoolers, but I think it would be a great pick for the reluctant readers. The short chapters and easy sentence structure take away a lot of the intimidation factor for those students. And they will certainly love all the characters in the book.
In short, if you haven't yet read this book, you need to get yourself to your nearest library or bookstore STAT! Your heart will break into a million pieces and then melt like butter in the sun. You'll want nothing more than to become friends with the animals at Exit 8 Big Top Hotel and Video Arcade. You'll laugh with them, cry with them, and hope for them.
OK... time for another Popsicle...
**Please check my book log for a complete list of my Monday book reviews.
100% of students in my Children's Lit class this semester listed Ivan as their favorite book of the semester. It was a great pick for those who don't love reading, too, for just the reasons you describe. Hope you feel better very soon and get to go on the zoo outing!
ReplyDeleteLOVED it! It's in my top 10 reads so far this year.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Brown Loves Bookworms
I have the book on hold. I hope you are felling better quickly.
ReplyDeleteA zoo trip right after reading Ivan? How timely :-) However, take care of yourself today. If you're not substantially better, stay home. You owe it to yourself, the students, and the staff to allow yourself to heal. Wherever you spend your day, have a good one!
ReplyDeleteI hope your throat is feeling better and I hope you tried my remedy. Mine was way better than Joel's idea! :)
ReplyDeleteAlison
Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'
Hi there Erin! I just bought The One and Only Ivan on a book sale several months back and really excited to get into it this year. :) Definitely an item I need to check off my reading list. :)
ReplyDeleteI started reading that book last week. After several chapters, I looked up at my kids and asked them if they were as depressed as I was. They agreed. It keeps getting more and more sad and pathetic. I'm a HUGE animal lover, I mean HUUUUUUGE!!!! I'm the person who stands outside of the circus when it comes to town holding a sign and protesting, educating people about how the elephants are abused (true story), and I stand outside of pet stores letting people know the pups are from puppy mills. So this book as been killing me. The kids seem to realize that animals being in captivity is a bad thing, although they thought zoos were ok. (I disagree, but I keep my opinion to myself)
ReplyDeleteI keep telling the kids that the story has GOT to turn around and have a happy ending. But for now, we trudge along, sad and depressed.....
Ali
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