The One and Only Ivan Reading Comprehension Questions
by Katherine Applegate
Part of the The One and Only series · Book 1 of 3
Book Summary
The story is told from the perspective of Ivan, a silverback gorilla who has lived in a cage at a shopping mall for 27 years. He believes he is content with his life, drawing pictures and spending time with his friends, Stella the elephant and Bob the dog. When a new baby elephant named Ruby arrives, and Stella becomes very ill, Ivan makes a promise to Stella to find Ruby a better home. This promise inspires Ivan to use his art to communicate his desire for freedom and a true sanctuary for Ruby and himself.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about The One and Only Ivan.
1.Where did Ivan live for 27 years at the beginning of the story?
2.What promise did Stella make Ivan keep before she died?
3.Who helped Ivan by giving him art supplies and displaying his drawings?
4.What does the word 'domain' mean in the sentence, 'My domain is about 20 feet by 20 feet'?
5.What does the word 'forlorn' mean when describing Ruby in her cage?
6.What does 'sanctuary' mean in the sentence, 'The zoo was a sanctuary for animals'?
7.Why did Ivan start drawing pictures of a zoo instead of just his usual drawings?
8.How did Ivan's feelings about his cage change after Ruby arrived and Stella died?
9.What can you infer about Mack's feelings when protestors gathered outside the mall?
10.What is a main lesson Ivan learns by the end of the story?
11.What does the story teach us about the power of art?
12.How can you tell that Ivan changed from the beginning of the story to the end?
13.What do you think was the most important friendship in the story and why?
14.If you were Ivan, what would be the hardest part about moving from the mall to the zoo?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from The One and Only Ivan to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading The One and Only Ivan with children.
What was your favorite part of The One and Only Ivan? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from The One and Only Ivan, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did The One and Only Ivan make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend The One and Only Ivan to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Katherine Applegate wanted young readers to learn from this story?
More in the The One and Only Series
All 3books →More Reading Questions You Might Like
10 Minutes Till Bedtime
by Peggy Rathmann
39 Clues: One False Note: A Graphic Novel (39 Clues Graphic Novel #2)
by Gordon Korman
39 Clues: The Maze of Bones: A Graphic Novel (39 Clues Graphic Novel #1)
by Rick Riordan
A Ball for Daisy
by Chris Raschka
Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is The One and Only Ivan?
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of 3.6. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for The One and Only Ivan?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for The One and Only Ivan, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use The One and Only Ivan for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
Want your child to try the full quiz?
Just download the free app.
Scan a book cover
any book covers
Answer fun questions
with instant feedback
Watch reading grow
scores and streaks
ReadBuddy.ai
