Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heart-filled series finale brings twins into Ivan's life.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY finds big changes ahead for Ivan and his mate Kinyani, now living in the Gorilla Villa in a wildlife sanctuary: they're about to become parents. Their vets and caretakers are really excited. There's a documentary in progress. Ivan knows it's a big deal, being a dad, but how hard could it be? Once the twins are born, he quickly finds out -- it's not just the tantrums, the million questions, and the not being able to take your eyes off them for a minute, it's wondering just how much you even want to tell them about all the bad things in the world. It's living in constant love, joy, and terror -- and fortunately, lots of friends and family are on hand to assist as Ivan's story draws to a close.
Is It Any Good?
Katherine Applegate brings the tale of Ivan the gorilla and his pals to an affectionate finale, with lots of memories and lots of new challenges -- like the fact he's about to be a dad, and now what? As seen in Patricia Castelao's lively, sometimes poignant illustrations, Ivan, Kinyani, their twins, Bob the dog, Ruby the elephant, and the humans who love them are all part of The One and Only Family -- and it gives them all a strong foundation when things are at their saddest and scariest.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ivan the gorilla and the many stories he's inspired, including The One and Only Family. Do you have any favorites in the series? What do you like about them?
Have you ever visited a wildlife sanctuary? Did you learn anything that surprised you? What animals did you like best? Where did they come from originally?
Have you ever realized that something you really wanted was never going to happen -- but there were some good things that were? What happened, and how did it work out for you?
Talk about the characters' courage and problem-solving skills. How did they use these skills to defuse bad moments before they got worse?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Patricia Castelao
- Genre : Animals
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Humility , Integrity , Self-control
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper
- Publication date : May 7, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 272
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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