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.

Ruby and Stella were our favorite characters throughout this series so we loved that Ruby got an entire book devoted to her story. My youngest (11 years old) is super sensitive. There were parts of this book that were really hard for him to read - Ruby has a terribly sad and difficult backstory. However, it is an important story about death and poaching but also about friendship and family.
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Some of the most touching parts of the story are when Ruby recounts her time with Stella. It allowed for my son and I talk about how sad we feel and miss his granny (my mom) and how it helps to remember her by sharing our memories with each other. I love that a book can lead to such personal, important discussions.
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In typical Applegate fashion, the are lots of fun and silly moments to temper the sad. Bob and Ivan are still great friends and we get to meet the members of Ruby’s new herd.
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This series is such a special collection of books. We highly recommend them all!

We finally get Ruby's story! Have your tissue box ready because just like Ivan and Bob, it is not always a happy one. This would be a great read aloud for families as it is ripe for discussion of what our role is in protecting the environment and animals who share it with us. The illustrations made for a lovely addition to the story, what could be cuter than a little elephant! It was great to see characters I've grown to love from The One and Only Ivan return. I would say this one is not quite as emotionally resonant as the first book, but it will still tug at heartstrings and delight young readers. A lovely edition the the world first started with Ivan.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an e-ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I am a huge fan of the Ivan books. I loved the first book so much and fell in love with the characters. I was shocked that I adored the sequel even more. This book wasn’t as adventurous as Bob’s story, but it was poignant and beautiful.

Ruby’s story focuses on her current life at the zoo and dealing with coming of age, while also flashing back to her life prior to meeting Ivan, Bob, and Stella. The book will teach children about what happens to elephants in the wild, but also teach them some important lessons about what family means and persevering.

This book would be great for third grade and up. That includes adults, too. It’s a beautiful, quick read. I hope there are more books in this series that continue o focus on these lovable characters.

The One and Only Ruby is a wonderful read! Ruby is the sweetest little elephant who is afraid to celebrate her tuskday. You see Ruby associates her tusks with the trauma of beginning her life in Africa. Catch up with Bob and Ivan while learning all about Ruby. Happy Reading!

Katherine Applegate does it again with this heartwarming story about our favorite baby elephant, Ruby. As she nears the celebration for her "tusk day", Ruby reflects on her life with her original herd in Africa before poachers killed her mother and she ended up in America.
In the same way The One And Only Ivan tugged at your heartstrings, this story will bring tears to the most stoic of readers. Ruby's plight is all too familiar for anyone who's been following the story of the illegal ivory trade.
I appreciated how she told the story through Ruby's narration as she spoke with Ivan and Bob. It may have also worked as a solid prequel but because she used this format, young readers who may not have been familiar with the other two novels will have the luxury of knowing that Ruby makes it through her struggles. It's a much gentler approach and even this old reader needed it!
I highly recommend this book for readers in grades 2-5 who love animals and especially those who are already familiar with Ivan's story--but it's not a prerequisite. This tale could certainly stand alone.

Thank you to Harper Collins for this ARC, I loved it. I am a huge fan of The One and Only Ivan, The One and Only Bob and now The One and Only Ruby. This story was so well done on how it spoke about grief, loss, growing up and what makes a family. The pictures were beautiful and just enhanced the story. A must read.

Katherine Applegate brings us back into the world of Ivan, Bob, and Ruby in The One and Only Ruby. This is Ruby's origin story, and it is utterly beautiful and heartbreaking. A must-read!

As always, Katherine Applegate does an amazing job developing characters and bringing the reader into the story. I loved Ruby so much in “The One and Only Ivan,” so was thrilled to find she was getting her own story, and that we would get to know how she came to be at the mall with Stella, Ivan, and Bob. Fans of “The One and Only Ivan” and “The One and Only Bob,” will love this third installment just as much.

I absolutely loved this book, it was a perfect addition to the Ivan and Bob stories that came before it. I can't wait for this to come out in print to add it to my classroom library. There are many excellent talking points throughout the book and opportunities for reflection. The quote at the end from Aunt Akello is my new favorite, definitely words to live by!

Another tear-jerker from Applegate's "Ivan" world! THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY explores the backstory of the little elephant who debuted in THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN. The majority of the book is Ruby telling her life story to Ivan and Bob, but there are strong themes of living with grief. While it doesn't have the excitement of the important missions in both THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN and THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, it's deeply emotional and well worth the read.

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

“The One and Only Ivan” is one of my all time favorites. Then along came “The One and Only Bob”, which won another place in my heart. Katherine Applegate knows how to touch our hearts and fill us with a life lesson.

After a long, sad, tiring journey, little elephant, Ruby, joins Ivan and Bob, who have been taken away from Big Top Mall, and now living in the Animal Sanctuary. Ruby is pretty happy until her Tuskday, her ceremony into growing up. She has many sad memories about tusks and doesn’t want to be a part of growing up. After sharing her memories, with the guidance of older elephants and a visit from a faraway friend, Ruby begins to understand her place and importance in life.

This book will remain on my shelf of favorites.

<i>’If anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people, only more so.’</i> - Pierre Corneille

<i>’Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing.’</i> - John Dunne

<i>’I can watch elephants (and elephants alone) for hours at a time, for sooner or later the elephant will do something very strange…There is mystery behind that masked gray visage, and ancient life force, delicate and mighty, awesome and enchanted, commanding the silence ordinarily reserved for mountain peaks, great fires, and the sea.’</i> - Peter Matthiessen


This is the story of a young elephant, the littlest elephant as this story begins, a <i>’Tusky’</i> by the name of Ruby. Ruby isn’t happy being called a <i>’Tusky’</i>, though, and would prefer to be just Ruby. The elders consider it to be a customary tradition, handed down through the years as their tusks appear, but Ruby doesn’t like it even if it is a ceremony celebrating a rite of passage. Ruby is especially nervous about having to give a speech, which would be hard enough to come up with, but actually giving it is what is terrifying.

And so Ruby goes to find a place to hide, which, let’s face it, isn’t really easy for even the tiniest elephant.
At its heart, this is a story of family, a story of love, loss and finding your tribe, as well as finding oneself. There are humorous moments, charming ones, as well as touching ones. A story written for middle-graders, but early readers and parents would enjoy this, as well.

A wonderful story shared with Katherine Applegate’s gift of infusing her stories with a natural charm, alongside Patricia Castelao’s wonderful illustrations that add additional delight to this enchanting story.


Pub Date: 02 May 2023

Many thanks for the ARC provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperCollins

I love this series! I've read all of the books now. Katherine Applegate did such a great job of weaving real life elephant facts through this lovely story about what makes a family and how to talk about what troubles us to help find a life on the other side of trauma. I will, of course, be purchasing this book for my collection as well.