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Maya is the nice woman from the good zoo who comes to save the animals from the Exit 8 mall. She works with Ivan at his new home.
Trait: Patient
Evidence: She never rushes Ruby into the box when she sees how scared Ruby is. She spends all day using the clicker to help train Ruby. She does not rush Ivan into meeting the new gorillas when she sees he's scared of them.
Question: Why do you think Maya is important in the story?

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Tag is Ivan's sister who died when they were stolen from the jungle. Not-Tag is a stuffed gorilla from Julia that reminds Ivan of his sister.
Trait: Makes Ivan remember importance of family
Evidence: Ivan had flashes of his past a couple times when he was holding No-Tag. Ivan used her to hide the paintings that would end of saving them, and he did that because of the promise he made to Stella, who was also like family to him.
Question: What would be different in the story if Not-Tag did not exist?

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Kinyani is a female gorilla at the zoo Ivan goes to after he is rescued.
Trait: Curious
Evidence: Kinyani does not immediately welcome Ivan to the zoo. She stays away from him for awhile and then charges at him to test him.
Question: What do you think will happen between Kinyani and Ivan after the book ends? Why?

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Bob is a stray dog who hangs out with Ivan and the others at Exit 8 mall. He sneaks through the cracked glass and hides from Mack. He loves to sleep on Ivan's belly.
Trait: Brave
Evidence: Bob was thrown out of a truck as a puppy and all his brothers and sisters died, but he fell in the ditch and lived. He survives by living on his own on the streets and looking for food. He says he doesn't need a family.
Question: What do you think will happen in the sequel, The One and Only Bob?

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Julia is George's daughter. She goes to work with him every night, so she spends time with the animals. She helps Ivan paint and ends up taking Bob home at the end of the story.
Trait: Helpful
Evidence: Julia helps Ivan by posting his painted message on the billboard, which gets the animals rescued. She tells her dad when she thinks Ivan needs food and Stella needs to see a vet.
Question: What do you think will be Julia's role in the sequel book?

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Mack owns the Big Top Mall. He is mean and does not take care of the animals.
Trait: Greedy
Evidence: Mack only cares about the mall making money. He won't spend any money on a vet even when Stella is lying on the floor dying. He won't spend any money to improve Ivan's cage or fix the broken glass.
Question: Did you ever feel sorry for Mack?

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Stella is an old elephant who has lived at the mall for a long time. She is sick and hurt because Mack has mistreated and ignored her for years.
Trait: Protective
Evidence: Stella is like a mother to Ruby and tries to teach her what she needs to know to live at the mall. When Stella is dying, she only worries about Ruby being taken care of.
Question: What do you think would be different in the story if Stella had not died?

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George is the custodian at the mall. His daughter, Julia, goes to work with him at night.
Trait: Helpful
Evidence: He was kind to Ivan when Mack wasn't around. He helped Julia put up the billboard even though he knew he would be in trouble with Mack for doing it.
Question: Why do you think the character of George is important?

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Ruby is a baby elephant who joins The Exit 8 Big Top Mall. She is sold to this circus because her last one went out of business. She is alone and finds comfort from Stella.
Trait: Scared
Evidence: Ruby is afraid to get off the truck when she first gets to Exit 8, so the men are very rough with her. She has no family when she arrives. She is quiet and hides in her cage and asks Ivan and Stella lots of questions about what is happening.
Question: What is one of the things that makes Ruby funny?

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Ivan is the main character. He is a gorilla who was stolen from him jungle home when he was a baby and has lived for 27 years in a cage in a roadside circus in America (off I-95).
Trait: loyal
Evidence: Ivan keeps his promise to Stella that he will save Ruby. He also tries not to move so that he doesn't wake up Bob who sleeps on his belly.
Question: How do you think Ivan felt when Julia and George put up his painted billboard? Please explain.