poetryaction for Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla

ivan

 

I was excited to share on Wednesday about Water Can Be… making it onto the Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended list. And one of the reasons it’s such an honor is because of the OTHER books loved by the award committee. Katherine Applegate’s Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla earned a Charlotte Zolotow Honor. It’s such a beautiful book. In this poetryaction, I really just tried to capture the core emotional experience of Ivan, and how the book gives a sense of hope despite the terrible conditions of much of his life.

Here I am reading this poetryaction.
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Don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup at Paul Hankins’ These 4 Corners.
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Poetryaction: After reading a picture book, sometimes I jot down a quick poem based on something in the book. It could be inspired by the entire book, the setting, a character, or even just a tiny detail in a picture or a single phrase from the text. I’m using picture books as a jumping off point for poems. I thought this might be something interesting for you to do in your classroom, so I’m going to share some of them here. I’m collecting them on a Pinterest board.

Bookalikes: A lot of times, when I’m reading a book, I think, “Oh, this would be fun to pair with XYZ book!” So I’m sharing those here when I think of them. These have their own bookalikes Pinterest board, too:>)

 

44 Responses

  1. I loved that Katherine Applegate has written a picture book that tells more, and adds a book for younger chlldren too. It, like the chapter book, is wonderful. I love this, Laura: “People cared.” Can you imagine-27 years!

    1. I haven’t even read her other Ivan yet, though it’s on my (endless) list! 27 years–boggles my mind. I was SO sad reading this picture book, and then so happy that she was able to still convey his happiness at his freedom.

  2. I loved that Katherine Applegate has written a picture book that tells more, and adds a book for younger chlldren too. It, like the chapter book, is wonderful. I love this, Laura: “People cared.” Can you imagine-27 years!

    1. I haven’t even read her other Ivan yet, though it’s on my (endless) list! 27 years–boggles my mind. I was SO sad reading this picture book, and then so happy that she was able to still convey his happiness at his freedom.

    1. Thanks, Freeda. I’m really enjoying making poetryactions after reading (usually) picture books. So many different ways to approach them, but they all let me think about the book a little more deeply!

    1. Thanks, Freeda. I’m really enjoying making poetryactions after reading (usually) picture books. So many different ways to approach them, but they all let me think about the book a little more deeply!

  3. Loved the novel. I haven’t read the PB, but have wondered if it could possibly live up to the novel’s reputation. Seems you’ve answered that for me today! Beautiful response poem, Laura.

    1. Thank you, Michelle–it’s heartbreaking. I haven’t read the novel yet. Not sure I’ll be able to take it. 27 years.

  4. Loved the novel. I haven’t read the PB, but have wondered if it could possibly live up to the novel’s reputation. Seems you’ve answered that for me today! Beautiful response poem, Laura.

    1. Thank you, Michelle–it’s heartbreaking. I haven’t read the novel yet. Not sure I’ll be able to take it. 27 years.

    1. It is :>( She wrote a novel based on the true story, too, called THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, which won the Newbery a year or two ago. The picture book has a bit in the back about the facts of the story.

    1. It is :>( She wrote a novel based on the true story, too, called THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, which won the Newbery a year or two ago. The picture book has a bit in the back about the facts of the story.

  5. I loved Ivan, although I haven’t read the picture book version. You’ve captured the essence beautifully — that lonely, heartless isolation.

  6. I loved Ivan, although I haven’t read the picture book version. You’ve captured the essence beautifully — that lonely, heartless isolation.

  7. Laura, I love the idea of poetryaction. I’ve written in reaction to a novel, but not picture books. It’s something I must try. Your Pinterest board is great. I followed!

  8. Laura, I love the idea of poetryaction. I’ve written in reaction to a novel, but not picture books. It’s something I must try. Your Pinterest board is great. I followed!

  9. Hi there Laura, I just borrowed this book from the library and I really can not wait to read it. I also have the novel-in-verse which I hope to read this year. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your poetry response to Ivan.

    1. The picture book is heartbreaking and heartmending all at the same time, Myra. I need to read the novel, still:>)

  10. Hi there Laura, I just borrowed this book from the library and I really can not wait to read it. I also have the novel-in-verse which I hope to read this year. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your poetry response to Ivan.

    1. The picture book is heartbreaking and heartmending all at the same time, Myra. I need to read the novel, still:>)

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