Let's start by saying my kids and I both absolutely LOVED The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob! I highly recommend reading this one because the illustrations are adorable. Plus, I love how Katherine formats her writing. Ivan was short paragraphs and gets you in the head of a gorilla. Bob was one liners that felt very dog like. I just love that little touch that Katherine adds to her writing!!

This story follows Ruby our tiny elephant friend. There's funny moments that gets you laughing but there's also some heartbreaking moments of loss. It is pretty sad so be aware if you have a sensitive reader. I feel like Katherine handled the topics of losing your family and poaching really well. And we love the found family Ruby has in Ivan, Bob, and her new elephant aunties! This is such a beautiful read that I recommend to everyone!!

Thank you Katherine, Netgalley, and HarperCollins Children's Books for my review e-copy!

I love Katherine Applegate, but I was originally uncertain about a third book in this series and whether it was necessary. The answer is YES, YES, YES, we absolutely needed this story of Ruby. And, while best read as part of a trilogy, it can also stand alone for your students who are looking for animal fiction featuring elephants. Applegate doesn't skirt around the difficult topics that come with conservation and how animals are treated in the world, but approaches them in a developmentally appropriate way, as always. Highly recommend.

I was so thrilled to receive this free ebook as an ARC through NetGalley! I have loved the series, The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob. This one did not disappoint. I loved everything about this book from the book cover, to the illustrations throughout, and the elephant language and glossary at the front of the book. I have fallen in love with each character from book 1, Ivan, Bob, Stella, and Ruby. With each book, we learn more about each character which I have thoroughly enjoyed. I don't think Katherine Applegate can write a bad book. This is a short, easy read for middle grade readers. They will love it for the above mentioned reasons, but also because of the short chapters, it's lovely writing, and storyline, and introduction to new vocabulary. At the end there is an author's note, the author talks about how the idea for the book came about and where to look for more information about elephants, the ivory trade, and what they can do to help. I think this book would make a good read aloud and movie. I hope there's another book in the series called Stella.

This adorable follow up to The One and Only Ivan is all about the baby, Ruby, who has also been relocated to a zoo, so she's living in a habitat similar to the one she left in Africa, with other elephants. She's about to celebrate her Tuskday, a day for elephants to recognize her as a legitimate part of the herd, instead of a baby. Ruby's anxious about Tuskday for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is how she ended up in the Big Top Mall with Ivan in the first place and how she ended up in the zoo in the second place. This is a wonderful book with lots of information about elephants and their behavior as well as how humans have used elephants to make money. Kids are going to love this one, I know I did.

What a beautiful book! This book just tugs on the heart strings. Ruby is just such a sweet little spirit. The message of this book is beyond beautiful. Learning that those who have been part of our lives even though they aren’t physically around anymore doesn’t mean they are lost. Also learning that sometimes the things that make us most sad about ourselves are beautiful and can have different meanings during different times in our lives. I think this is just a fantastic book for kids and adults alike and is one that I will be so proud to recommend to patrons. Thank you so very much to HarperCollins Children’s Books and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of reading an advance copy of this book.

It's here! Fans of Katherine Applegate's 'The One and Only Ivan' and 'The One and Only Bob' have another favorite character moved into the spotlight. 'The One and Only Ruby' is about the life of Ruby (the younger of the two elephants from 'The One and Only Ivan'). This book is mainly the backstory of Ruby's life before coming to the Big Top Circus and the treatment she received by humans throughout her life. Adults can read between the lines and imagine the details of the treatment, but the language used likely won't disturb younger readers. It may however (as it should) spark a conversation about how humans treat animals, for better or for worse. Readers may also appreciate the notes at the end of the book for how humans can help elephants. And as always, Applegate does a remarkable job by saying so much with a small but powerful choice of words ("We are not our best selves without wonder"), and by leaving the reader with a sense of awe and peace.

This book was especially touching for me because an elementary school book club that I've led took it upon themselves to write sequels for the characters in 'The One and Only Ivan,' including Ruby. We sent them to Ms. Applegate last year and she ever so kindly wrote back to us and thanked us for our time and thoughts. While I didn't notice any of their suggestions in this book, her sweet gesture deepened my sense of a kindred connection among all of us as writers.

*I received this ARC in exchange for my book review.

I got an ARC of this book.

As soon as I heard this book existed, I knew I needed it. I love the Ivan-verse. I love all of the characters. I told my partner immediately when I got it. I had to warn them I was about to cry for a few hours.

And I did cry. Not as much as the first book, but still. There were so many talks about Stella. The elephant that I would die for (though I would be hard pressed to find one I wouldn’t die for). It was amazing to see Stella through Ruby’s eyes. Being able to get Ruby’s backstory was heartbreaking in a way I should have expected, but was not prepared for. I cried in my office, I cried in my car waiting for my partner to get out of work, I cried in bed when I finished the book. Ruby is a treasure.

This book got into how humans can manage to destroy a creature that could easily end us without a second thought. Elephants don’t though. We should be thankful and grateful for that. We shouldn’t hunt them for their tusks. The first time I cried was because Ruby had a secret that was tied so heavily to her trauma of being an elephant in Africa that I almost couldn’t keep going. It read as very trans (which has happened with a few Applegate characters) and as the book went on it was made clear it was about trauma. It worked on so many levels for me.

My only issue with the Ivan book was I wanted more Stella, so having Ruby be able to be that bridge was perfect. Ruby saw Stella in a way that Ivan never could. Stella was so important to Ruby and tried to shield Ruby when she could. So much of this book is about Stella and not about Ruby. It is because an elephant on its own isn’t an elephant.

If you liked the Bob book more than the Ivan book, then this one won’t be amazing for you. If you are all about Ivan and found Bob to be a little weird, then READ THIS NOW.

Be sure to ask yourself what amazed you today and what made you proud today. Ask yourself every day. Be an elephant.

"What gifts did the world give you today? What gifts did you give the world?""

The One and Only Ruby is a sweet story about a young elephant coming of age in a park/zoo environment with her new elephant herd and her old friends, Ivan, a silverback gorilla and Bob, a mutt. Ruby's herd want to celebrate Ruby getting her tusks, but she is afraid. In the wild, she witnessed the cruelty of human poachers. She shares her story from birth to present with Ivan and Bob, and as she reveals her past, we understand her fears.

This book is the third in a series; however, each book can stand alone. The One and Only Ivan (1st book) and The One and Only Bob (2nd book) are more companion novels, although I feel that The One and Only Ivan is the best of the three, and it is probably best to read first.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins Children's Books, and Katherine Applegate for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

This story starts on the day of Ruby's Tuskday, the day of celebration in the herd for a young elephant who's tusks have started to come in. Ruby is not excited about this day and when her caretaker from the elephant orphanage comes to the sanctuary, she has a flood of memories come back. She tells her story to Uncle Ivan and Uncle Bob, who are the most gracious listeners as she recounts a very hard time in her life.

Ruby has a most special place in my heart, because I LOVE elephants and her story pulled at my heartstrings. It's a quick and powerful read. I cannot wait to put this in my classroom library.

The One and Only Ruby is an impactful novel about family, friendship, and courage. As the protagonist Ruby prepares for Tuskday, where she will celebrate her tusks publicly, the reader takes a journey with her as she faces the pain of the past while sprinkled with humor and a good dose of love, Will Ruby be able to confront her pain of the past so that she may welcome the future?

I was honored to receive an advance review copy to read--this review is voluntary. While I'm eager to explore The One and Only Ivan and The One and Only Bob next, I'm glad that I got the chance to begin my journey with The One and Only Ruby.

Having watched The One and Only Ivan and heard great things about the book series, I was excited to read The One and Only Ruby. Fans of The One and Only Ivan and the One and Only Bob will be happy to see that their characters recur in this 3rd book of the series. While Ruby was rescued from the shopping mall, she still has had hardships in her life through the loss of her mother to poaching and the loss of her adopted mother Stella. Ruby describes the new sanctuary she lives in and how it is better, but not as good as being free.

The book is written almost in verse, but not quite. This means shorter sentence length and more spacing between paragraphs. I really appreciate that the author didn't fill up the chapters with words just to write words. Everything was purposeful, and the story was well told.

I highly recommend this for schools and libraries!

I've been waiting for Ruby's story for such a long time and I can't wait to share it with my students <3

What a treat to get to read Ruby's story and to find out more about her past and how she became part of the group. Katherine Applegate's writing style is so tender and descriptive that you can't help but feel like you're transported into the settings of the animals. I loved it! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Title: The One and Only Ruby
By: Katherine Applegate

Recommended:
4th grade and up

Red Flags:
Loss, Poaching

Excerpt:
“You can’t run from growing up. That’s a race you will not win, my friend.”

Summary/Review:
The One and Only Ruby is the third book in the series, but can stand alone. It takes place a couple months after Ivan, Bob, and Ruby are taken from the Big Top Mall. The animals are living at an animal sanctuary, and Ruby is preparing for Tuskday. This special day is a celebration of an elephant growing up, a day which should be exciting, however, Ruby is far from it. She is anxious, scared, and wants to escape the sanctuary to avoid having the celebration.

Kathrine Applegate tackles sensitive subjects, poaching, trauma, anxiety, and loss through the eyes of a young reader, and does it so eloquently. The novel is rich in vocabulary, and would be another great supplement to an elementary classroom. This novel includes a vocabulary list, and additional supplemental resources at the end. The illustrations are perfect. Highly Recommended!

Thank you to Katherine Applegate, Harper Collins Publishers, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads #katherineapplegate
#oneandonlyruby #elementaryreads
#netgalley

This story adds to the saga of three animals (Ivan, Bob, and Ruby) who once lived in a crowded mall zoo. Ruby's tale from birth in Africa to her new exitance in a large zoo is related through flashbacks from her past as she faces the future of her tusk day celebration. This novel in verse addresses issues of animal exploitation, along with the little elephant's fears as she faces the future of growing up. In the past, I really enjoyed Ivan and Bob's stories. Ruby's adventures were well-written, but seemed a little more preachy in content. I still found the book an interesting read and recommend it to fans of Katherine Applegate and Novels in Verse.

Another wonderful and heartfelt story by Katherine Applegate! Perfect addition to the “The One and Only” series. I look forward to reading this with my youth book club! They will be so excited to hear more about Ruby, who is always a favorite character.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Katherine Applegate for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read and absolutely adored both “The One and Only Ivan” and “The One and Only Bob” so I was excited to hear there was a 3rd book being released in the series that would be told from Ruby’s point of view. I can safely say that I loved “The One and Only Ruby” just as much as Ivan and Bob. Applegate is so talented in sharing the thoughts and feelings of all 3 characters and does an amazing job pulling the reader into the story. Such an incredible, feel-good story that’s full of relatable life lessons for all ages.

Ruby is a young, curious elephant who is full of questions about life, just like most young children. She is now living at The Wildworld Zoological Park and Sanctuary with a herd of “Auntie” elephants. Ivan also lives there and Bob comes to visit them almost daily. Ruby is a little apprehensive about her upcoming Tuskday, an elephant’s coming of age ritual. Most of the book she is sharing her past story to Ivan and Bob leading up to when she met them, and Stella, at The Big Top Mall. She tells of the many hardships some elephants endure; including being poached for their tusks, and the horrible conditions some live in due to being part of traveling circuses. Ruby realizes that she is lucky to be where she currently lives and the importance of her herd of “Aunties”. As she is maturing, she understands the importance of belonging and being loved and accepted for who she is, not only by her herd but her found family, Ivan and Bob.


If you loved “The One and Only Ivan” and “The One and Only Bob”, then “The One and Only Ruby” is a must read!

First, the One and Only Ivan made us cry, then The One and Only Ivan made us laugh (and cry a little) and now The One and Only Ruby will make us think (and cry and laugh a bit). All three of the characters we first met in “Ivan” are now living in a habitat style zoo with caretakers who are kind and knowledgeable. They see each other regularly and remain each others’ greatest source of support, but that doesn’t mean that memories of the before don’t still haunt them. Ruby’s story is more than just the small cage in the mall sideshow zoo and takes readers back to Africa when she was the youngest calf in a family of elephants and doted on by her mother and the other females. Poachers seeking ivory leave her an orphan, rescued and then lost from a humane rescue center and then sold into captivity by the unscrupulous. As Ruby relays her memories to Ivan and Bob, she finds healing and ultimately, her place in her new elephant family. Author Katherine Applegate concludes her book with further information about the poaching of elephants and suggests simple things that young readers can do to make a difference. This addition to the series becomes even more wonderful by black and white drawings by Patricia Castelao. Her drawings reveal personality and warmth and in many, humor. (My personal favorite is the one with Bob sitting on top of a pineapple with his head cocked, looking like the imp that he is.) Highly recommended for readers from grades 4-6 and even younger listeners. Text is free of profanity and sexual content and the violence done to the elephants is troubling but not graphic.

Ruby is the youngest member of Ivan's unique family but she has seen much danger and suffered traumatic events in her young life. Katherine Applegate pulls us into the very real problem of poaching elephants for their tusks and also to supply private zoos and circuses. Thanks to her earlier book on Ivan, the gorilla who grew up in captivity, we know that most of these places have neither to funds or the space to care for the animals and the animals live in abusive conditions. Ruby is approaching her "Tusk Day" which ushers her into the herd and is a sign of maturity. She is anxious about this day and hates her tusks until she shares her story. All of the incredible family structure, intelligence and gentle behavior of these magnificent creatures is explained as well as the dangers they face in the hands of poachers. Even young readers will understand how terrified an animal must be and while the author does not sugar coat what happens it is not overdone. The author's note goes on to explain what is being done and where you can go for more information which I am sure kids will appreciate. Fans of her other books will love this great addition to the series as will animal lovers everywhere. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

My kiddo was so excited that we got approved to read the arc and decided to read this together over a weekend.

We loved “The One and Only Ruby.”
We thought it was really sweet and my kiddo liked Ruby’s riddles (Why did the elephant cross the road? Because the chicken retired!)
We both enjoyed hearing about Ruby’s past. Hearing about it made us understand the dream Ruby mentioned - the one about touching bones and then watching them fade. It was based on Ruby’s herd respecting the elephant bones they passed while walking.

There was also sadness in it: Ruby’s mother died from poachers and she was forced to run away from the elephant orphanage she was taken to because of the fire.

Overall, we thought it was a wonderful book and really recommend it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a great addition to the One and Only series. I love the voice of Ruby and her story. She pulls you in from the beginning and gets you grinning. I can't wait to share this with my students.