November Meeting Wrap-Up

The Book Buddies Book Club met yesterday afternoon to discuss our November book, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.  It was a terrific meeting including trivia and book discussion followed by the creation of original artwork inspired by the book!

Everyone really enjoyed the book, although we all thought it was very sad the way the animals were treated at the circus and at the mall.  However we were very happy that Ivan and Ruby and all of the mall animals ended up at a zoo where they would be well taken care of.  We discussed the fact that The One and Only Ivan is based on a true story and we read some of the details of the real Ivan's life and looked at photographs of him. 

Since art and the creation of art was such an important part of Ivan's life and ultimately helped get him and  the other mall animals rescued, we decided to create our own artwork inspired by the book!

Alasdair's picture inspired by Ivan's artwork (apple, banana and grapes)

Nicole's picture - Ivan and the gorillas and Ruby and the elephants at the zoo

It was a wonderful meeting and thanks to all the Book Buddies members who attended!

Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder that the Book Buddies Book Club will meet on Wednesday, November 19th at 4:00pm to discuss our November book, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.  Come for snacks, book discussion and a related activity! 

Registration is required - please call the Children's Desk if you plan to come (847-8720 ext. 204).

PLEASE NOTE the new time!  Book Buddies will meet at 4:00pm instead of 3:30pm going forward.  We want to try and give more kids time to get to the library from school! 

Hope to see you on Wednesday!

Reading Recommendations

Enjoying The One and Only Ivan?  Here a few other chapter books that are similar in theme that you might like to read:

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

An old hound that has been chained up at his hateful owner's run-down shack, and two kittens born underneath the house, endure separation, danger, and many other tribulations in their quest to be reunited and free.

A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin

Squirrel, a stray puppy, tells her life story, from her nurturing mother and brother to making her own way in the world, facing busy highways, changing seasons, and humans both gentle and brutal.

The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett

Twelve-year-old Andrej, nine-year-old Tomas, and their baby sister Wilma flee their Romany encampment when it is attacked by Germans during World War II, and in an abandoned town they find a zoo where the animals tell their stories, helping the children understand what has become of their lives and what it means to be free.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy's attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site.

Zoobreak by Gordon Korman

After a class trip to a floating zoo where animals are mistreated and Savannah's missing pet monkey is found in a cage, Long Island sixth-grader Griffin Bing and his band of misfits plan a rescue.

Books by Katherine Applegate

Katherine Applegate, author of our November book, The One and Only Ivan, has written many other terrific books for young readers.  Here is another of her other books you might like to read:

 
Home of the Brave (2007)

Kek, an African refugee, is confronted by many strange things at the Minneapolis home of his aunt and cousin, as well as in his fifth grade classroom, and longs for his missing mother, but finds comfort in the company of a cow and her owner.

November Author: Katherine Applegate

Katherine Applegate is the wonderful author of our November book, The One and Only Ivan.  She is the author of many books for children including the series Animorphs and Roscoe Riley Rules.  Find out more about her by reading this wonderful interview with School Library Journal and by visiting the One and Only Ivan website.

Did you know that the story of Ivan was based on a real gorilla?  Find out more about the real Ivan by visiting The One and Only Ivan website and by reading the companion picture book Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla.

November Book

The Book Buddies book for November will be.... The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate!  This book won the Newbery medal in 2013 and was a Rhode Island Children's Book Award nominee in 2014.  It is one of my favorite books of the last few years!

We will meet to discuss The One and Only Ivan on Wednesday, November 19th at 4:00pm in the John Clarke Children's Program Room.  (Please note the time change from 3:30pm to 4:00pm.  We are hoping to give new members more time to get to the library from school).

Copies of the book are available at the Children's Desk. 

Hope to see you in November!