Why does Ivan say: I live here because I am too much gorilla and not enough human.
It means that 

2. Why does he call his home a domain?  What did you think of it when he described it?
Ivan calls his home

3. *Why does the billboard show an angry gorilla with fierce eyes and unkept hair?  What does Ivan say about anger?
The billboard shows

4. What do you think of the little big top,  that Ivan describes?
I think the little big top

5. How does Ivan keep himself occupied?  Do you think this is important for a gorilla?
Ivan occupies his time

6. What does Ivan draw and why?
Ivan likes to draw

7. *Why don’t you think Ivan remembers his past?  Why doesn’t he want to think about the future?
Ivan doesn't want to remember

2. In the chapter, tv, Ivan compare people watching tv to what?  Why could watching tv be important to Ivan?
People watching tv is

3. How does the nature show make Ivan feel? Good or bad and explain why. ( He sees another gorilla in the tv show and realizes there is another one of him.) 

Ivan feels

4.  *How can you tell that Stella and Ivan are friends?  Stella was telling Ivan about the bull elephant who was hit with a claw-stick. Why did she never see the bull again?
You can tell Stella and Ivan are friends because

5. Why would Stella call her leg irons or chain, “bracelets”?  Why do you think Mack bought her? 
She call them bracelets 

6. Stella doesn’t have to wear iron shackles at the big top mall- just a rope is all. She said, “they think I’m too old to cause trouble.” What does she mean when she says, “Old age is a powerful disguise”.
She means

7. Why don’t YOU think Bob wants a home? Why does he have a special bond with Ivan?
Bob

2. Why does Bob let Julia pet him and not any other humans?

3. *Stella tells Ivan to remember a good day and she tells him she thinks about her early life. Why do you think Ivan “won’t” remember much from his past? 

4. Why do you think Stella keeps telling Ivan her foot is fine, when it obviously is not?

2. Bob asks Stella, Is that (Jambo) a true story?” “I always tell the truth,” Stella replies. “Although I sometimes I confuse the facts.”  What does her last comment mean? 

3. *How do you feel about the way they brought Ruby into the Big Top? 

4. Do you think Stella is happy Ruby arrived or not?

5. How does Ivan feel about Ruby’s arrival?

6. What is Ruby like?  How would you describe her? 

4. What was something new you learned about the “perfect” life of a silverback gorilla? 

2. *Why was Ivan hungry even though he was well fed at Mack’s house?  What was he hungry for?

3. Why did Mack take Ivan to the Big Top Mall? How did Ivan feel about his new place? 

4, What did Ivan mean when he said, “Am I a human?  Am I a gorilla?  but many days I forget 

what I am supposed to be’?

5. *What does Ivan mean when he says there are “nine thousand eight hundred and seventy-six X’s marching across my wall like a parade of ugly insects.”

6. What was the ”new beginning”? How did that section with Mack and Ruby make you feel? 

 

1. Why does George say “Poor Mack” (about the look on his face after Ruby hit him)  and then turn away and laugh?

2. Why does Ruby ask if Mack is mad at her after she hurt him? 

3. At the end of the section called,  a bad dream, why does Ivan tell Ruby, “And it’s not a domain,  it’s a cage”? 

4. *Why does Ivan tell Ruby that the story of the elephant who is going to the zoo is true? Who is the story talking about? 

5. Who killed Ivan’s family and why? How does remembering the story about his family’s death, help Ivan? 

6. In the section, something else to buy, what does it make us realize about things people buy for souvenirs?

7. *How had Ivan changed at the end of this section, another ivan?  How do you feel now about the promise he made to Stella?

1. How has Ruby changed in this section? Does she get along with Mack now?

2. What project do you think Ivan is working on?  What clues do you have so far? 

3. How can you tell that Bob is a good friend and very supportive of Ivan?

4. *Why does Ivan need to paint the picture he imagines in his head now?  Any idea what he is painting?

5. Why does Ivan need to keep all the paintings hidden?  What is he afraid of? 

1. Why is it so hard for Ivan to get Julia to understand his painting project?

2. What does Ivan mean at the end of the section, more paintings, when he says, “I can’t let Ruby be another One and Only”?   What does he finally do to get her attention? 

3.  When Julia finally figures out what Ivan wants her to do, how does her dad, George feel about it? Do you think they should do it? Explain.

4. *Jules uses the word “principle” ( not principal) from her spelling lesson, to convince her dad? Explain this.

5. How do you think Mack is feeling after he sees the billboard? What do you think it means?

1. What had happened to Ivan as a result of the billboard? How do you know?

2. When Ivan tells Bob my idea isn’t working, what does Bob say to Ivan?  Do you agree with Bob? Explain. 

3. The inspector gave Mack a sheet of paper and he goes into his office and slams the door. What do you think is happening?  ( the end of free ruby) 

1. *When the lady is trying teach Ruby to get into the box, Ruby tells Ivan “I don’t want a zoo,
I want you and Bob and Julia. This is my home” . Why does Ivan say “No Ruby, this is your prison”?

2. What’s special about the picture that Julia drew for Ivan? Who is in the pic and what are they doing? 

3. What did you think of how Mack said goodbye to Ivan? Did Mack love Ivan? explain

THEN ANSWER QUESTIONS with * and 1 more
1. *Before Ivan leaves, why does he say to Bob, “You are the One and Only Bob” ? What was special about Bob and Ivan’s relationship?

2. How is Ivan strong for Ruby? Wil they ever see each other again? What do you think?

3. Where did they put Ivan when he first arrived at the zoo?  Why? 

3. What was on the tv Ivan was watching? Why? 

THEN ANSWER QUESTIONS            3 of your choice
1. What did it mean when Maya “pulled the string on the wall with the wooden slats” in Ivan’s cage? Why did they do that?  What was the plan?

2. How do you think Ivan feels when he can see the family of gorillas? Why?

3. Why doesn’t Ivan leave his cage the first day and join the family of gorillas? What does he mean when he says,  “I’m not ready to be a silverback, I’m Ivan, just Ivan, only Ivan.”?

4. Why does thinking of Ruby help Ivan when he is trying to go through the open door? 

5. The section outside at last says: “sky, grass, tree ant, stick, bird,.... rain, mine. mine. mine. “ 

What did this mean?  How was Ivan feeling at this point? How did you feel?

6. How does Ivan do during is first time outside? Why is this section called oops?

1. *In the section, what was it like, Ivan can’t remember what it was like being a gorilla. He tries to imagine Ivan as he “might have been”.  Why is it so hard for him?  Who is to blame for this? 

2. *What message or theme is Ivan sharing with us about wild animals? 

3. Why is the video of Ruby so important to Ivan? What does he see? How does he react? 

4. What are some of the signs that Ivan is starting to get the hang of being a Silverback? How does this make you feel? 

5. How can you tell that Ivan is becoming part of the troop?  

6. What does Ivan see when he climbs up the hill and does his artwork on the wall? How do you know this is important to Ivan?

7. Why does Bob call to Ivan before they leave, “You are the One and Only Ivan”? 

8. How do we know, at the end of the book, that Ivan is finally where he belongs?  

9. *Why does the author end the book with a section called, silverback? What does that mean? 

 I AM POEM

1. Something Ivan sees
2. Something  he smells
3. Something he hears
4. Something he tastes
5. Something he feels
6. Something he likes or loves
7. Something he wishes for