The One and Only Ivan

Recommended for: Level 2 (Ages 7–10), Great for All Ages

Step into a glass-walled enclosure at the edge of a shopping mall with Ivan, the silverback gorilla at the heart of Katherine Applegate's beloved novel The One and Only Ivan. He watches television, paints pictures, and hardly ever thinks of the jungle, until a baby elephant named Ruby arrives and makes him see his home, and his art, through new eyes.

Your family will slow down and sink into a story about unexpected friendship, the power of art to change how we see, and one gorilla's promise to give another a better life. Through gentle, story-led learning, you will explore gorillas, the true story behind the real Ivan, and the changing world of zoos in a way that feels connected, meaningful, and actually enjoyable to live out at home.

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Topics Explored

• Gorillas: Gentle Giants of the Forest
  
• The Real Ivan: The Gorilla Behind the Story
  
• Zoos: A Home Away from the Wild
  

Writer's Craft Explored 

• Adjectives 
• Metaphors
• Juxtaposition

This Month's Adventures

• Charlotte Mason-inspired nature study of gorillas
• Case File: dig into the true story of the real Ivan
  
• Designing Ivan's Habitat: work like a real zoo designer to plan an enclosure that meets a gorilla's needs
  
• And more...

What's Inside

Every guide includes curated picture book selections tied to the story's themes, a monthly overview so you can see the full rhythm at a glance, and open-and-go weekly plans with suggested reading schedules, supply lists, activity checklists, and built-in Margin Days for rest, catch-up, or following curiosity wherever it leads. A cozy morning basket section with poetry and nonfiction titles gives your days a gentle, unhurried place to begin.

Watch and Wonder Each week opens with curated videos and podcasts to explore the topic before anything else — plus a Wonderings to Follow space to capture your child's questions as they surface

Watch and Tell Your child watches a short video, then chooses a narration prompt to respond to aloud or in writing. The first prompt is Charlotte Mason-style narration; the second is a Socratic question designed to stretch older learners into critical thinking and discussion. Narration pages in two line sizes and printable notecards are included to support every stage.

The Writer's Desk Each week your child studies a real passage from the book and learns from the author directly:

• Read and Notice — Look closely at punctuation, patterns, and author choices
• Exploring the Craft — Learn a writing technique drawn from the text and try it yourself
• Editor Challenge — For older students, step into the role of editor and catch intentional mistakes
• Copywork — Copy a passage by hand in print, cursive, or freehand

Go Deeper (When You Want To)

• One More Chapter — Optional activities and deeper dives for families who want to keep the curiosity going
• A Taste of the Story — Simple, story-inspired recipes and food ideas to enjoy throughout the month or as part of your celebration

Watch and Reflect Close the month by watching related movie together and talking about what you noticed

Lingering After the Last Chapter A gentle way to reflect and look ahead, including:

• A reading journal page
• A reflection page for your child
• A magazine-style quiz to discover what adventure to explore next

Book Club Party A joyful, low-pressure celebration to mark the end of your adventure and create a memory your family will hold onto

A Compassionate Approach to Homeschooling

This guide was created for real families.

You might follow every page. You might skip around. You might just read together some days.

It all counts.

You are allowed to build a homeschool that works for your actual life, not an ideal one.

Digital product — no physical item will be shipped.