Grade 2AR Level 3.6

The One and Only Ivan

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Reading Comprehension Questions

by Katherine Applegate

Part of the The One and Only series · Book 1 of 2

14 curated questions

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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

14 curated questions across multiple comprehension levels. Use after your child finishes the book.

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1Where did Ivan live for 27 years at the beginning of the story?

Comprehensioneasy

2What promise did Stella make Ivan keep before she died?

Comprehensionmedium

3Who helped Ivan by giving him art supplies and displaying his drawings?

Comprehensioneasy

4What does the word 'domain' mean in the sentence, 'My domain is about 20 feet by 20 feet'?

Vocabularyeasy

5What does the word 'forlorn' mean when describing Ruby in her cage?

Vocabularymedium

6What does 'sanctuary' mean in the sentence, 'The zoo was a sanctuary for animals'?

Vocabularymedium

7Why did Ivan start drawing pictures of a zoo instead of just his usual drawings?

Inferencemedium

8How did Ivan's feelings about his cage change after Ruby arrived and Stella died?

Inferencemedium

9What can you infer about Mack's feelings when protestors gathered outside the mall?

Inferencehard

10What is a main lesson Ivan learns by the end of the story?

thememedium

11What does the story teach us about the power of art?

themehard

12How can you tell that Ivan changed from the beginning of the story to the end?

analysishard

13What do you think was the most important friendship in the story and why?

discussionmedium

14If you were Ivan, what would be the hardest part about moving from the mall to the zoo?

discussionhard

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All 14 questions

Across recall, inference, theme, vocabulary, and critical thinking.

Answer keys

For parents — what a strong answer looks like at this grade.

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Key Vocabulary

Important words from The One and Only Ivan to discuss with your child.

domaincontentmentforlornexhibitprotestorssanctuary

Discussion Prompts

Great open-ended questions for car rides, dinner, or read-alouds.

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1“What was your favorite part of The One and Only Ivan? Why did it stand out to you?”

2“If you could talk to any character from The One and Only Ivan, who would you choose and what would you ask them?”

3“How did The One and Only Ivan make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?”

4“Would you recommend The One and Only Ivan to a friend? What would you tell them about it?”

5“What lesson or message do you think Katherine Applegate wanted young readers to learn from this story?”

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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.

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