cereal box book report the one and only ivan

The One and Only Ivan

By katherine applegate.

• The One and Only Ivan Summary

The One and Only Ivan begins with Ivan , a silverback gorilla, introducing himself to the reader. Ivan lives in a glass-enclosed domain at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Next to his domain lives Stella , an elderly circus elephant with a swollen, injured foot. Bob , a stray dog, secretly lives in Ivan's domain and sleeps on Ivan's chest. Ivan used to be wild but has lived in captivity, among humans, for twenty-seven years. Over time, Ivan learned to understand human speech, though he doesn't understand human behaviors and attitudes, particularly their greed.

Multiple times a day Mack , the mall's owner, dresses as a clown and leads the animals through performance routines for mall-goers. At night a girl named Julia , the mall cleaner George 's daughter, does her homework and makes drawings while sitting next to Ivan's domain. Julia once gave Ivan a slip of paper and a crayon through a crack in his domain. Ever since then he has made drawings that Mack sells for twenty dollars a piece. When young and wild, Ivan painted with mud. Ivan claims to have a bad memory, but Stella believes he doesn't want to remember his past. Ivan draws a beetle but Mack doesn't see it as anything other than a blob: Julia, however, recognizes it as a beetle, and Ivan is happy to have a fellow artist around.

Mack buys Ruby , a baby elephant, to increase customer traffic. Stella is displeased by the new addition, as she remembers everything she has been through and doesn't want the same miserable life for Ruby. While more customers come to see Ruby, Stella's infected foot makes her overall health deteriorate, but Mack says he can't afford to call in a veterinarian. Stella asks Ivan to save Ruby, then Stella dies in the night.

To console Ruby, Ivan tells a story of his life growing up in a dense rainforest in central Africa. He played tag with his twin sister, who was named Tag. He played with mud, so he was named Mud. One day humans took him from his family and put him in a dark crate, which Mack opened. Mack and his wife Helen raised Ivan like a human in their house, making him wear diapers and drink soda and eat junk food. Helen left Mack one day, and Ivan grew too big for the house. Mack put Ivan in his domain at the mall. At first Ivan liked it, but he didn't realize how long he would have to stay there. He keeps track of days by marking Xs on the wall.

Following Stella's death, Mack drinks heavily and disappears for two days. When he returns, he attempts to train Ruby to perform the same routine Stella performed. He threatens her with a claw stick, causing her to smack him with her trunk. Julia gives Ivan three pots of finger paints. Using the paints, Ivan takes Ruby's fate into his hands and begins making paintings at night. One morning Mack finds the paintings stashed under Ivan's plastic paddling pool and decides he can sell them for more than he was selling Ivan's crayon drawings. It disappoints Ivan that Mack took Ruby's paintings, but Mack brings Ivan more paint and paper. Ivan realizes he needs to paint the zoo he sees in a TV advertisement. But it is not enough: he realizes he needs to spell the word home.

One evening Ivan sticks the paintings through the crack in his cage. Julia and her father don't understand that the paintings are a set and so they pile them up and intend to drop them by Mack's office. Ivan hoots and beats his chest to get their attention, startling them. Julia sees that the dropped paintings on the floor create a bigger picture, and she notices an H. After some convincing, George helps Julia put Ivan's paintings up on the freeway billboard advertising Ivan and Ruby.

The billboard brings media attention and more customers. Soon protesters arrive at the mall, which eventually leads to visits from animal welfare officials who shut down Mack's enterprise. Zoo officials arrive with transport boxes to take Ivan and Ruby to the zoo. While they are both reluctant to leave their familiar environment, eventually they go in the boxes.

Ivan wakes up in a new glass cage. He doesn't understand where he is, but soon it becomes apparent that he is being integrated into the gorilla pasture at the zoo. After first seeing his new troop on a TV, and later through the glass, Ivan slowly adjusts to living as a gorilla among other gorillas. One day Ivan makes a mud painting on a large white wall. After climbing a tree to see his work better, he sees Ruby over the wall, and she is happily living with other elephants.

The novel ends with Julia and her father visiting Ivan at the zoo. Julia has Bob in her backpack, and she says he lives with her now. They say goodbye and Ivan turns to his troop, proud to be a mighty silverback.

The One and Only Ivan Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The One and Only Ivan is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What Ivan did to get George and Julia’s attention and why was is suprising

Desperate to get Julia's attention, Ivan beats his chest like a wild gorilla, because he is “angry, at last”—he has “someone to protect.”

How old is Ivan?

Ivan is around 30 years old. He has been living at the Big Top Mall for twenty-seven years.

what is ivans point of veiw towards bob?

Bob and Ivan have been good friends ever since, and Bob is often a source of comfort for Ivan. When the animals are taken from the circus to the zoo, Bob goes to live with Julia and her family despite his claims that he dislikes humans and will...

Study Guide for The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan study guide contains a biography of Katherine Applegate, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The One and Only Ivan
• Character List

Wikipedia Entries for The One and Only Ivan

• Introduction
• Inspiration

Project-Based Learning

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Teacher Tips

• Blog , Reading , Teaching tips

Cereal Box Book Reports – A Fun Alternative!

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If you’ve never tried Cereal Box Book Reports, I suggest you give it a try! Teachers are always looking for unique ways to assess their students’ comprehension of fiction books and novels they have read. Many teachers find traditional book report alternatives to be extremely helpful in getting students excited about reading. Sometimes, however, students crave s omething a little bit different . Enter Cereal Box Book Reports!

A few years ago, I started using  Cereal Box Book Reports  as a Reading  project. My students LOVED making them, I noticed a big difference in their engagement in the book report process, and they were so excited to share their final projects. We even left the finished products on display in the classroom!

CEREAL BOX BOOK REPORTS

I suggest having a parent helper work with you to cover all the cereal boxes with white bulletin board paper before you introduce the projects. It saves a TON of work!

Before we began the project, I gave each student a scoring rubric so they knew exactly what was expected. We went over the rubric together. 

Then, I explained that cereal names must correlate to the novel they had chosen to read. These two projects were for the books  Charlotte’s Web  and  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone .

My students loved having the freedom to choose their own novel (pre-approved) and get creative in matching the theme of their cereal box book report to the book! 

While creating their reports, students wrote the book summaries on one side panel of the cereal box.  They identified and described the setting and main characters on the other side panel.

On the back of the cereal box book report, students created a fun game or activity related to the book. Some made a word search, while others designed mazes, word scrambles, or riddles. 

The title, name of the author, and book ratings were added to the top of the cereal box book reports.

You can either create your own rubric and project directions for your own students, or if you would like to save time, check out my popular, ready-to-print Cereal Box Book Report Packet !

Take a closer look at the complete cereal box book report project below:

Looking for some more fun and creative book report ideas?  I’ve put together a list of  10 Book Report Projects that Kids Love .  Sometimes a fun book project is not enough, especially for those reluctant readers. Based on my experience, here is a helpful list of  25 of the best books for Tweens .

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Shelly Rees

Hi, I’m Shelly! Thank you for being here. I love helping third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers with fun and engaging activities that require no to little prep! Let me help you by taking some of the stress and work off your plate.

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Cereal Box Book Report: A Creative Writing Project & Activity for Gifted Students

• Categories : High school english lesson plans grades 9 12
• Tags : High school lesson plans & tips

• Cereal Box - empty and in good shape (no torn off tops or crushed sides)
• Butcher Paper - assorted colors
• Construction Paper or Scrapbooking Paper
• Assorted scrapbooking decorations/stickers
• Packing tape
• Fishing Line

How to Make a Cereal Box Book Report

Tape both ends with packing tape to seal down the flaps and to keep them from poking up after wrapping. Using butcher paper, wrap the cereal box much like you would a Christmas present, but being sure not to go too crazy on the tape. The boxes look best when wrapped in a neutral color like white, gray, or beige.

The front of the box will have the title of the book, author name, and a picture or object that symbolizes the story. Tell students to select an image or object that would most likely be a movie poster if this book were to be made in to a film. Encourage them to refrain from using an image similar to what is already on the cover of the book they are reporting. Creativity should play a huge part in the overall grading and you want them to come up with an image for the front of the box that is meaningful, but different from the novel’s cover. Students can draw their own image, use clip art they’ve printed from a computer, or use 3-D objects. For example, I had a student create cereal box for the short story, “A Rose for Emily” and hot glue a withered, dried rose to the front of the box and also added a Barbie-size hair brush with a few steel-Grey wig hairs weaved in the bristles. Not only should the image be striking, but the title and author’s name should be bold and visible on the front of the box.

Step Three:

On the back of the box, you can use this space to have students illustrate their knowledge of a lesson you have studied in conjunction with the novel, or if the book is fiction, you could require students to construct a plot pyramid, being sure to use examples from the novel for each step of the pyramid. Non-fiction books could create a time-line of the novel, or a “Facts & Figures” chart that displays the main facts from the book. Require two or three symbolic images that represent the book in some way.

Side one of the cereal box should list the “ingredients”, or characters in the novel. Each main character should also have a few sentences that describe their physical and personality traits. You can require a picture or object that symbolizes each character. The scrap-booking aisles of craft stores offer great stickers and trinkets that would be great for character symbols. Using the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton as an example, students found a tiny jean jacket for Johnny and a miniature football helmet for Derry to glue next to their names and descriptions. It is unbelievable how many different stickers and trinkets you can find in the scrap-booking section! Also keep in mind that I encourage students to type up their descriptions and other textual items on the computer and print them using aesthetically pleasing font and color. Simply writing the information directly on to the butcher paper will appear sloppy and will not leave much room for error. Typing, printing, cutting and pasting on to the box is the student’s best bet and will look the best for the final product.

Side two of the cereal box needs to describe the setting of the story, and include a paragraph description. Side two should also note whether the story was written in first or third person or explain the author’s style of the work (stream of consciousness or prose writing, for example).

The top of the box should contain a theme statement that the student created to best fit the story. You can also require symbolic pictures to accompany the theme statement.

Step Seven:

The bottom of the box will contain two tone words that best describe the first half of the work and then two additional tone words that describe the second half of the work. Images and pictures that represent the tone words can also be required.

Report Presentation

Upon completing the cereal boxes, students should present them to the class; taking time to explain and describe each aspect of the box to the class. I like to display the completed boxes by puncturing the upper corner of the box with a large needle and weaving a length of fishing line through the top. I then suspend the boxes from my classroom ceiling to show off the student’s hard work. The hanging boxes are eye-catching and are also a great way to promote reading in your classroom. Students may venture to try a book they’d never dared to because the cereal box hanging from your ceiling piqued their interest!

The One And Only Ivan

91 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-38

Chapters 39-79

Chapters 80-116

Chapters 117-153

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

The One and Only Ivan is a children’s novel by Katherine Applegate, first published in 2012. Winner of the John Newbery Medal, the highest honor for US children’s literature, the novel received starred reviews in Kirkus and the School Library Journal and was a New York Times bestseller.

The One and Only Ivan is based on the true story of a gorilla named Ivan, who was captured from the Democratic Republic of Congo and spent 27 years living in a cage in a mall before he was moved to Zoo Atlanta in 1994. In her novel, Applegate transforms Ivan into a fictional gorilla who can understand and speak human language, and who tells his story through a series of short, poetic vignettes. Like the real Ivan, the novel’s main character lives in a mall, the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, where he is billed as the “One and Only Ivan” as part of the mall’s daily circus.

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In the opening of the novel, Ivan describes his life at the mall where he has lived for 27 years, after humans captured him and ripped him away from an African childhood he barely remembers. Ivan lives in a cage with three windowed walls, so he can see the mall and the billboard that depicts him as “The One and Only Ivan, Mighty Silverback.” While Ivan does have the silver patch of a mature male gorilla on his back, he does not consider himself a true silverback, a leader and protector of his troop, for he has “no one to protect” (10).

At the mall, Ivan lives with his animal companions Stella , an elderly elephant who was once part of a famous circus, and Bob , a stray dog who sleeps on Ivan’s chest at night. He is also friends with the 10-year-old human Julia , daughter of the mall janitor George . Ivan and Julia are both artists, and after Julia slips a paper and crayon through the hole in Ivan’s cage, Ivan creates drawings the mall owner Mack sells. Art helps Ivan deal with his lonely, dull existence in the small mall cage, but unlike Julia, Ivan can only draw what he sees in front of him, not what he imagines.

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All the animals at the mall experience a huge shift in their existence when a baby elephant, Ruby , arrives at the mall. Mack, the mall owner, explains he bought Ruby from a bankrupt zoo to bring new income to the struggling mall, and Mack treats Ruby callously right from the get-go, impatiently forcing her out of the truck she arrived in. Stella immediately takes on the role of Ruby’s caretaker and protector, and Ivan quickly gets to know and care for the friendly young elephant as well. When Ruby describes how humans killed her family and took her captive, the animals realize they’ve all suffered at the hands of human cruelty: Humans murdered Ivan’s parents, Stella was chained and forced to perform in a circus, and Bob was abandoned on the freeway with his siblings, who didn’t survive. However, Ruby also remembers humans who saved her when she fell into a hole in Africa, and Stella describes zoos where humans provide a “safe place” (64) for animals, thus suggesting that humans aren’t all bad.

Stella’s foot injury from her time in the circus has become infected, and knowing she won’t survive, she asks Ivan to ensure Ruby lives in safety—and Ivan agrees on his “word as a silverback” (113). The other animals mourn Stella’s death, and when Ruby asks Ivan to tell her a story about his childhood, Ivan finally forces himself to confront the memories he’s suppressed. Through Ivan’s story, readers also learn about Ivan’s “perfect life” (127) in Africa with his gorilla troop, which ended when humans murdered his parents and shipped Ivan and his twin sister, Tag, to the US in a crate. Tag, who couldn’t let go of her past, died, and Ivan chose to forget his heritage in order to survive. Ivan was bought by Mack who, along with his wife Helen, raised Ivan as a human child, giving him a toy bike and feeding him junk food, but denying him the one thing he truly needed—the companionship of other gorillas. When Helen left Mack and the gorilla became too large and ill-behaved for Mack to handle, Mack moved Ivan to his cage in the mall, where he’s spent the past 27 years.

After reliving his past, Ivan begins to see his home in the mall as the “cage” (165) it truly is, and later goes even further to call it a “prison” (240). At the same time, Mack has begun threatening Ruby with a claw-stick while training her to perform in the mall circus, and Ivan realizes how important it is for him to keep his promise to Stella—but he isn’t sure how to do so. Then Ivan sees an ad for a zoo on the TV in his cage, and he realizes he needs to paint Ruby in this zoo. In so doing, Ivan must paint a picture of something imaginary rather than an object he sees in front of him—a feat he previously believed he wasn’t capable of. Ivan stays up all night for many days, using the finger paints Julia gave him to depict the scene on pieces of paper which will fit together like a giant puzzle, hiding them under his pool and later inside his stuffed animal so that Mack won’t find and sell them. However, he still feels like his artwork is missing something, until he adds four giant letters: H-O-M-E. As he works, Ivan begins to access “another Ivan” (173) within him, a strong, angry Ivan like the one depicted on the mall billboard, that belies his typically peaceful personality.

Ivan decides he’s ready to show his artwork to Julia—he’s sure that as a “fellow artist” (59), she’ll be able to interpret his message—but when Julia doesn’t understand his picture, he fears Ruby will become “another One and Only” (206) trapped in the mall forever. Desperate to get Julia’s attention, Ivan beats his chest like a wild gorilla, because he is “angry, at last”—he has “someone to protect” (208). His tactic works, as Julia gives his painting another look and sees what it’s meant to represent, then convinces her dad to help her put the painting on the mall billboard and calls the local paper. When reporters run a story about the mall animals and include the claw-stick Mack uses to train Ruby, protestors arrive at the mall. Eventually zoo workers begin to interact with the animals, and Ivan understands that they will transport Ruby and him to the zoo to begin new lives. Ivan says goodbye to Julia and Bob, worrying about where the dog will live, and he even shares a farewell with Mack, who says he’ll miss Ivan but then walks away and “doesn’t look back” (255).

At the zoo, Ivan is perplexed to find himself in another cage, where he watches a gorilla troop of three females and a young male, first on a TV in his cage, then through a glass wall. Finally, Ivan is released into the gorilla enclosure, but he has difficulty relating to the other gorillas, as he has to remember how to act like a wild gorilla after spending so long in the human world. Eventually Ivan is comfortable enough to court one of the female gorillas, Kinyani, and to take on the role of a mature male gorilla, a silverback who protects his troop. Ivan also continues to make art, painting with mud on the wall of the gorilla enclosure. When he climbs a tree, he spots Ruby in another enclosure, surrounded by other elephants—a confirmation that he’s fulfilled his promise to Stella.

In the last chapter of The One and Only Ivan , Julia visits Ivan, and she smuggles Bob in as well. Ivan learns that Julia has adopted Bob, and the girl praises Ivan for helping Ruby. In the final words of the novel, Bob tells Ivan he’s the “One and Only Ivan” (300), and Ivan can finally believe he’s as strong and special as the gorilla on the mall billboard. Ivan says goodbye to his friends and returns to the gorillas he now thinks of as “family,” proclaiming himself to be “Mighty Silverback” (300).

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Revamping Book Reports: How Cereal Box Book Report Promotes Creativity and Critical Thinking Skills

Calling all educators and parents! Do you remember the days of boring book reports? Times have changed and it’s time we switched things up to promote creativity and critical thinking skills. One alternative method that has gained popularity is the cereal box book report . Not only does it provide a fun way for students to showcase their literary comprehension, but it also integrates design elements into education. Let’s explore how using cereal boxes as a unique tool can help revamp conventional assignments and improve overall enthusiasm for reading in young learners. Download here today !

How to Use the Cereal Box Book Report

After reading a fiction book students will design a cereal based on the book to promote critical thinking skills and make the book report and writing part fun. This creative writing project comes with real-life examples and photos. My favorite part is the character ingredient list and the special prize inside part of this book report. Students love this creative cereal box book report because they get to be creative and it is different than just a normal paragraph book writing assignment. In addition, this includes printable templates for students to write on and cut and glue onto a standard-size cereal box so you can display these book reports on real cereal boxes!  Ready to make learning fun and end boring book reports with these create a cereal report? Download here today !

See what others are saying:

“My students loved this resource! It is a great alternative to a traditional book report. It is very creative and engaging for students to interact with the content of the book in a more in depth way. Thank you!”

“We used this after reading a novel.  The entire class created the report using the same book, and the boxes were so creative and unique.  None were the same!!  Thank you for putting this together. “

“I loved this resource! My students did an amazing job on this activity. Everything was well designed, and the students understood what to do. Great resource! Thanks!”

Grab it here today !

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The One and Only Ivan Visual Summary

In this activity, activity overview, template and class instructions, more storyboard that activities.

• This Activity is Part of Many Teacher Guides

Creating a plot diagram not only helps students learn the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures. Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. In this activity, students will create a visual plot diagram of major events in The One and Only Ivan . Students should identify major turning points in the novel such as the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

Plot Diagram Example

Exposition: The Big Top Mall and Video Arcade is Ivan’s home. He and his friend Stella, an old and wise African elephant, have lived here for years, confined and used for the entertainment of humans. Stella’s health is declining, and being cooped up for so long is really taking its toll on Ivan.

Rising Action: When Mack buys Ruby, a baby elephant, to make the arcade more appealing for visitors, she and Stella form an instant bond. Stella’s foot infection gets worse and spreads, with little hope that Mack will do anything due to lack of money. Stella dies, and Ivan has promised to take care of Ruby.

Climax: Ivan works day and night to create pictures of Ruby in a zoo for the large billboard on the street. Julia and her father pick up on Ivan’s plan, and hang the pictures at night for all to see the next morning.

Falling Action: The billboard attracts the attention of many people, including protesters who think the confinement of the animals is unfair and cruel. People in white coats keep coming by, and train Ivan and Ruby to go into a box. Could these people be taking them to a better place?

Resolution: The Big Top Mall is closed down and the animals are all brought elsewhere. Bob goes to live with Julia and her dad, and Ivan and Ruby are taken to a wonderful zoo, where they are with their own kind and have plenty of space in the open air.

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Objective: Create a visual plot diagram of The One and Only Ivan .

Student Instructions:

• Click "Start Assignment".
• Separate the story into the Title, Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
• Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
• Write a short description of each of the examples in the plot diagram.
• Save and exit when you're done.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 4-6

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Plot Diagrams and Narrative Arcs

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric .)

How to Use Visual Summarization for Peer Learning

Introduction to visual summarization.

Explain the Concept: Begin by introducing what visual summarization entails — creating a visual representation of the key plot points of a story. Discuss the Plot: Review the major events in "The One and Only Ivan" to ensure that students have a clear understanding of the narrative. Highlight the beginning, middle, climax, and end of the story.

Creating Visual Summaries

Individual or Group Work: Depending on your class size and dynamics, assign students to work individually or in small groups to create their visual summaries. Creation Process: Students will use the provided materials to create their visual summaries. Encourage them to be creative and to focus on capturing the essence of the story’s plot and major events.

Gallery Walk and Peer Sharing

Display the Summaries: Arrange the completed visual summaries around the classroom, creating a gallery walk setup. Gallery Walk Activity: Allow students to walk around the room, view each other’s visual summaries, and discuss them. Provide sticky notes for students to write down questions, comments, or interesting observations about their peers' work.

Group Discussion and Reflection

Group Discussion: Bring the class together and facilitate a discussion about the activity. Encourage students to share what they learned from their peers' summaries, any new insights they gained about the book, and how this activity helped them understand the story better. Reflective Writing: Conclude the lesson with a reflective writing exercise. Ask students to write about their experience creating the visual summary, what they learned from their peers, and how peer learning contributed to their understanding of the book.

Frequently Asked Questions about The One and Only Ivan Visual Summary

How can students effectively represent the main themes of "the one and only ivan" in a visual summary.

Students can effectively represent the main themes of "The One and Only Ivan" in a visual summary by focusing on key symbols and scenes that encapsulate these themes. For the theme of freedom versus captivity, visuals might include contrasting images of Ivan's life in the mall with imaginings of the jungle, symbolizing his longing for freedom. To depict the power of friendship, students could illustrate pivotal moments of camaraderie and support among Ivan, Ruby, Stella, and Bob. Art and creativity, another significant theme, can be represented through visuals of Ivan’s paintings, highlighting how his art becomes a means of expression and change. Each theme can be accompanied by relevant quotes from the text, enhancing the connection between the visuals and the novel’s narrative. The use of color, texture, and composition in these visuals can further convey the emotional tone associated with each theme.

What is the purpose of creating a Visual Summary for "The One and Only Ivan"?

The purpose of creating a visual summary for "The One and Only Ivan" is multifaceted. Primarily, it serves as an engaging tool to help students synthesize and interpret the narrative in a creative and accessible manner. Visual summaries allow for a deeper exploration of the novel's key themes, characters, and plot points, aiding in better comprehension and retention of the story. This method of summarization caters to visual learners and offers an alternative to traditional text-based analysis, making the learning experience more inclusive. Additionally, it encourages students to express their understanding and perspectives on the novel creatively, fostering artistic skills and critical thinking. The activity also enhances students’ ability to communicate ideas visually, a valuable skill in both academic and real-world contexts.

How can visual summaries be adapted for different age groups or learning abilities?

Visual summaries for "The One and Only Ivan" can be adapted for different age groups and learning abilities by varying the complexity and nature of the task. For younger students or those requiring more guidance, the focus can be on simpler themes and more straightforward illustrations, using templates or guided activities. For older or more advanced students, the activity can include more nuanced themes and allow for greater independence and complexity in their artistic representations. For students with special educational needs, using tactile materials, simplified assignments, or incorporating digital tools can make the activity more accessible and engaging. Differentiation can also be achieved by allowing students to choose their mode of expression – some might prefer drawing, while others might gravitate towards collage or digital creation – ensuring that the activity caters to diverse interests and abilities. By adjusting the scope and format of the visual summary, educators can make the activity relevant and enriching for all students, regardless of age or learning style.

One and Only Ivan, The

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The One and Only Ivan Book Report Poster Writing Project (Novel Study)

• Easel Activity

Description

This poster project is perfect to use with a novel study of the book The One and Only Ivan. As the students read this piece of literature they can create their poster and include the author, illustrator, genre, setting, point of view, character traits, protagonist, antagonist, plot diagram, and the problem and solution.

No More Messy Student Posters! Do your students not know where to start when making a poster on a book report? Have your students read The One and Only Ivan as a class, with a guided reading group or independently? If so, this is the perfect project that allows your students to work independently. This project will help guide your students in making a neat, organized, and informative poster based on their reading of The One and Only Ivan.

This kit takes the guess work out of how to create a book report poster. It includes all the reading comprehension components of the novel study for grades 3+. All you need is the poster board or construction paper taped together. This project can be used for English Language Arts, a novel study, reading and writing center work, during Writer's Workshop, and as homework.

In this kit students can Mix & Match the pieces they want to include on their poster. There are blank pieces included too for student ideas!

A Book Report Poster Project Rubric is included so that the students know your expectations! The students can present their book report project to the class and be assessed on the reading comprehension and speaking and listening components on the rubric.

All it takes is 3 simple steps:

1. Read the book The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.

2. Cut and fill out the Reading Comprehension Templates.

3. Glue to the Poster Board!

The One and Only Ivan Book Report Poster Project Includes:

Character Traits Diagram for Ivan, Stella, and a blank template for a character of the students' choosing (The students can include which diagram they want to include on their poster)

Templates for the Author, Illustrator, Genre, Setting, and Point of View

Protagonist Template and Evidence Template

Antagonist Template and Evidence Template

Plot Diagram with Beginning, Middle, and End Template for Grades 3+

Plot Diagram which includes the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution for Grades 4+

Problem and Solution Template

Blank pieces for Student Generated Ideas

Book Report Poster Rubric

Answer Key with Possible Answer and Summary of Story Components

Check out the Biography Research Kits! My students often want to do more than one!

Helen Keller Biography Research Poster Kit

Ruby Bridges Biography Research Poster Kit

Barack Obama Biography Research Poster Kit

Harriet Tubman Biography Research Poster Kit

Martin Luther King Jr. Biography Research Poster Kit

Abraham Lincoln Biography Research Poster Kit

Albert Einstein Biography Research Poster Kit

Dr. Seuss Biography Research Poster Kit

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How to Make a Cereal Box Book Report

Reading is a fundamental part of early education. Studies even show that reading to newborns helps their brain development and can improve vocabulary later on. Reading opens doors to learning, and will be an essential part of schooling forever. 

Chances are that sometime in your mom life you will have a child that needs a book report, and chances are that you also purchase a large amount of boxed cereal. This creates the perfect scenario for these cereal box book reports . They are a fun way for kids to share what they learned in their reading, and a practical way to reduce, reuse and recycle those old cereal boxes. 

The first few steps in the cereal box book reports would be to read the book and buy a box of cereal if you don’t already have a box laying around. If you don’t already have a stash of cereal boxes, it could be fun to let your child pick out the cereal from the store with the book report in mind for the end result. 

The cover of the cereal box is usually bright, colorful, and has the name of the cereal unmistakably large on the front. The front of the box is a lot of real estate for your child to get creative. The cereal name should be the title of the book. The art work on the front should hint to the storyline just like the cover of a book would. 

One side of the cereal box usually has nutrition facts and an ingredients list. The setting of the story can be described in this column. The setting should include things like the location, the era of time. Setting can best be remembered as the time and place. If the setting is described well it is possible for someone to get the feeling of being in the book without having ever opened it. 

Main Characters

The other side of the cereal box is where your child can describe the main characters of the story. Describing the setting and main characters are the fundamentals of a good book report. Main character descriptions can include things like age, role, personality, relationship to other characters, physical appearance, etc. 

Traditionally, the back of the cereal box usually has a maze, a word search, or some kind of activity that kids love to do over and over again. I think we all had that one sibling who did the activity in pen and ruined it for everyone else. The activity should somehow be related to the book. A word search with main character names or setting details, or title and author information could be included. 

Why Book Reports are Important

Book reports are a great way to gauge how well a child understood what they read. Reading comprehension is the only way that reading is beneficial to a child. Making book reports fun and engaging for children could help them have a better relationship with reading. Cereal box book reports are sure to be a hit with your children, and will also help them learn and grow academically. If you try it out, be sure to leave a comment! 

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The One and Only Ivan *

Environment & Conservation

The One and Only Ivan , winner of the 2013 Newbery medal, is a very special book. It’s the story of a silverback gorilla, forsaken as a shopping mall attraction. Ivan manages, thanks to an array of supporters, to survive and flourish and discover a new and better habitat. It’s a story told from Ivan’s perspective in an unforgettable, clear, moving prose style, through sentences and sentiments so honed that they read like haiku.

Ivan has been brought to the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade in Washington State to entertain tourists. Ivan’s friends are Stella, an aging elephant; Bob, a runaway dog who sleeps in his cage; and Ruby, a new young elephant.

Ivan forms a special relationship with Julia, the daughter of the mall custodian, a relationship not unlike Wilbur and Fern in Charlotte’s Web . It is Julia who encourages Ivan to draw with crayons and finger paints. Through drawing, he is able to find a way of expressing himself and his inner feelings so that others them can see, too.

I scan my domain. What is yellow? A banana. I draw a banana. The paper only tears, but only a little. I lean back … What else is yellow? I wonder, scanning my domain. I draw another banana. And then I draw eight more.

Inspired by Stella’s wisdom, Ivan eventually resolves to do something to save young Ruby from the mall circus. With the help of his friends, he manages to save himself, too.

I am, I suppose, a peaceful sort. Mostly I watch the world go by and think about naps and bananas and yogurt raisins.

But inside me, hidden, is another Ivan.

The One and Only Ivan is written in the first person so the reader experiences everything from Ivan’s perspective – his life, his past, his current domain, his friends, his hopes, his dreams. He is a keen observer and an affecting narrator: melancholy, witty, and wise. He tells us bluntly: “Humans waste words.” “Homework,” he discovers, “involves a sharp pencil and thick books and long sighs.” And when he finally meets other gorillas: “Is there anything sweeter than the touch of another as she pulls a dead bug from your fur?”

Most of Ivan ’s chapters consist of carefully crafted single sentence paragraphs. They make for patient, careful reading and listening. They merit appreciative attention. Students and parents may fly through Ivan ’s carefully polished prose. Teachers will want to stop and call attention. You can even create simple, inspiring writing exercises out of Applegate’s technique.

The One and Only Ivan has become a broadly popular book on our list. Ivan’s engaging voice puts readers right inside the head of a vibrant new character. His array of friends ensures readers have fun and care about their plight. And Ivan’s voice is a boon to readers – and writers – of all ages

Ivan: A Gorilla’s True Story by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by G. Brian Karas Companion to The One and Only Ivan

Written in free verse with warm illustrations, this nonfiction picture book provides the backstory of Ivan’s life, from Africa to Zoo Atlanta.

A Picture Book Companion is an  add-on  that can expand the reach of your school-wide reading program when the chapter book might contain themes that are too complex for younger readers, especially your preschoolers. Now everyone can be included! This book even comes with its own set of resources similar to those for the chapter book. You can request to include the Picture Book Companion on the Request A Quote page when requesting a quote on the chapter book above.   Picture Book Companions often have an up-charge that will be communicated to you on your quote.

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Ivan & Friends Paperback 2-Book Box Set: The One and Only Ivan, The One and Only Bob Paperback – September 6, 2022

Purchase options and add-ons.

Discover the unforgettable world of best friends Ivan and Bob in this gorgeous illustrated paperback box set, including the Newbery Medal-winning The One and Only Ivan and its bestselling sequel, The One and Only Bob !

Ivan is an easy-going gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. Mostly, he thinks about art. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Continuing the story of these friends in The One and Only Bob, Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

The One and Only Ivan is a modern classic that has enchanted readers for over a decade. The winner of the Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller, the book was deemed “extraordinary” by Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books and “a must-have” by School Library Journal in starred reviews. And its sequel, The One and Only Bob , debuted at #1 on multiple bestseller lists, including the New York Times list, and was called “pitch-perfect” by Kirkus Reviews and “delightfully heartfelt and adventurous” by School Library Journal in starred reviews.

In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope.

The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob feature first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective).

These acclaimed middle grade novels are an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, for independent reading, homeschooling, and sharing in the classroom.

• Reading age 8 - 12 years
• Print length 704 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 7
• Dimensions 5.8 x 2.2 x 8 inches
• Publisher HarperCollins
• Publication date September 6, 2022
• ISBN-10 0063278537
• ISBN-13 978-0063278530
• See all details

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About the author.

Katherine Applegate  is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1  New York Times  bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including the One and Only series, the Endling series, Crenshaw ,  Wishtree , the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series. She lives with her family in Nevada.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (September 6, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 704 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0063278537
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063278530
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.7 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.8 x 2.2 x 8 inches
• #35 in Children's Zoo Books (Books)
• #54 in Children's Ape & Monkey Books (Books)
• #55 in Children's Elephant Books (Books)

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Ivan & Friends Paperback 2-Book Box Set: The One and Only Ivan, The One and Only Bob

Description.

Discover the unforgettable world of best friends Ivan and Bob in this gorgeous illustrated paperback box set, including the Newbery Medal-winning The One and Only Ivan and its bestselling sequel, The One and Only Bob !

Ivan is an easy-going gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. Mostly, he thinks about art. Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.

Continuing the story of these friends in The One and Only Bob, Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

The One and Only Ivan is a modern classic that has enchanted readers for over a decade. The winner of the Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller, the book was deemed “extraordinary” by Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books and “a must-have” by School Library Journal in starred reviews. And its sequel, The One and Only Bob , debuted at #1 on multiple bestseller lists, including the New York Times list, and was called “pitch-perfect” by Kirkus Reviews and “delightfully heartfelt and adventurous” by School Library Journal in starred reviews.

In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope.

The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob feature first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective).

These acclaimed middle grade novels are an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, for independent reading, homeschooling, and sharing in the classroom.

About the Author

Katherine Applegate  is the Newbery Medal-winning and #1  New York Times  bestselling author of numerous books for young readers, including the One and Only series, the Endling series, Crenshaw ,  Wishtree , the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter books series, and the Animorphs series. She lives with her family in Nevada.

Other Books in Series

The One and Only Ivan: A Newbery Award Winner

The One and Only Ruby

The One and Only Bob

The One and Only Family

The One and Only Ivan Movie Tie-In Edition: My Story

The One and Only Ivan Full-Color Collector's Edition

Ivan & Friends 2-Book Collection: The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob

The One and Only Ivan CD

The One and Only Bob CD

The One and Only Ivan Movie Tie-in Edition: My Story

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