The One and Only Ivan is a Newbery Medal winner and a #1 New York Times bestseller! This large-format collector's edition includes full-color interior artwork from illustrator Patricia Castelao, a special letter from Katherine Applegate, her Newbery Medal acceptance speech, a letter from Ivan's caretaker at Zoo Atlanta, Ivan's signature, and sketches and illustrations that were not part of the original book.Inspired by the true story of a captive silverback gorilla known as Ivan, this stirring and unforgettable novel celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendships. Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.Hailed as a best book of the year by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Amazon, Katherine Applegate's novel blends humor and poignancy to create this incredible tale of friendship, art, and hope told from Ivan's own point of view, in the tradition of timeless classics such as Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little.Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts