"It w as like everything in their lives. In our lives. A compromise between being free and being captive.
Shades of gray."

Ivan was born in the jungle but has been in captivity for most of his life. When Ivan's family expands, it further complicates his struggle between his past life and his present - and the only life his children may ever know. This charming book continues the story of Ivan, with visits from his pals Ruby and Bob, as he faces more change in his life. Be prepared for a pull on your heartstrings as well as the a smile of joy as Ivan pushes forward with his new life.

I have read every one of these books. The story of Ivan is so powerful, and it is a joy to see him as a parent. Your heart breaks for him as his wife and child fight a mysterious illness. My kids and I read this book together and it was beautiful for all of us.

I loved this last book in the One and Only Ivan family series! It was a nice culminating story to share one last time of Ivan's, Bob's, and Ruby's stories. It would help to read all the books in order or at least Ivan's story before reading this book. You should keep tissues close by while reading, just in case. I really, really loved hearing from Ivan again and all his friends. I liked reading about how Ivan was dealing with changes and realizations too (I don't want to give too much away). I think readers will be able to relate to things happening in the story on many different levels.

A must-have for all libraries! A must-read as well! All these books in the series including this one, would be great classroom or family read-alouds.

#KatherineApplegate #OneAndOnlyFamily #OneAndOnlyIvan #OneAndOnlyBob #OneAndOnlyRuby #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarians #ReadABook #Books #Read #KidLit #ElementaryBooks #ElemReads #MGReads MGBooks #MGLit

I love this family! It has been such a pleasure to follow Ivan and his family, especially as they grow in The One and Only Family. In this story, Ivan and Kinyani grow their family with twins! At first, Ivan is unsure of how to welcome this unexpected change, especially given his life and all that's happened, however once his babies, Tuma and Raji are born, everything changes for the better.

I love that this continuous coming of age story and it's a beautiful way to finish telling the story of Ivan, Bob and Ruby. My students will be sad to know this is the last book, however this series has served them well!

Always a pleasure to read about Ivan. And as a parent, I could relate to the new parenthood theme in this book. I think kids will like it. It's easy to understand and very Age-appropriate. I'll be recommending it to upper elementary/lower middle.

Any time spend in Ivan's world is a good time. I just heard Katherine Applegate talk about this book and she was saying she never imagined Ivan's story would end up being a quartet. Well, we are all so glad that it did! Reading The One and Only Family was like sitting by a warm fire with a hot cup of cocoa, snuggled in a comfy blanket. This one is never going to be on the shelf because kids are always going to be reading it!

Thank You To NetGalley for the free w-ARC.

I had mixed emotions about this book. I was hesitant to start reading as that would mean this beautiful serious was over. With a few tears, I said good-bye to this gem of a book and a series. It was lovely to see how far Ivan and his friends had come. It was a tear jerker to hear Ivan's story told again and to see him become a father for the first time. His struggle with telling his story to his kids and the realization that may not ever be free. I love Katharine Applegate!

A beautiful way to finish telling the story of Ivan, Bob and Ruby. In this, the last book in the series, it’s Ivan’s turn again to have his story told. This time he and his partner are becoming parents! Ivan tries to come to terms with the fact that he and his children will most likely never be free again, and what that means to his family. Wonderful story.
Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC,

Thank you to @NetGalley and @HarperCollins for the ARC. I have read every book in this series and they have become part of my heart. Katherine Applegate brings Ivan and his family and friends to life by her words and pictures. In this book Ivan and his mate are having a baby and they have to learn how to be great parents. Lucky they have their found family to help them get ready. Is book is a must for my school Library.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm such a huge fan of Ivan and his friends. I was ecstatic to come across this title. There was a brief moment where I was afraid that it might take a turn that would make it possibly the worst book I'd ever read. Thankfully, that did not happen. Applegate absolutely delivers with this volume. I'm sad to know that this will be the last book.

An Ivan sequel is a must-buy, due to the following these books have at my libraries; this one was appealing to me as an adult due to Ivan's reflections on parenting and memories. A good parent-child read.

A beautiful ending to the series by Katherine Applegate. Ivan becomes a father and knows his job is to protect, provide, and...love. The twins' names mean hope and the book ends on a hopeful note.

Ivan's beloved series is a favorite in my library since I was local to where he lived when I was a young girl. In this installment, we find another heartwarming story that captures the reader's heart and mind. This final installment gives us all insight to strength, friendship, and love you find in life's challenges and journeys. A warm thank you to the author, illustrator, and publisher for giving us the gift of this series. It was perfect.

Ivan's final chapter unfolds in The One and Only Family, and it's as heartwarming and hopeful as you'd expect. Returning to the familiar faces of this beloved series was pure joy, especially witnessing the tenderness of Ivan's newfound fatherhood and his poignant reflections on his past. Applegate seamlessly weaves past and present, reminding us of the characters we met along his journey and how they shaped his life. This is a story about embracing second chances, the unwavering power of love and family, and the quiet strength it takes to overcome loss and forge a new path. Fans of the series will find their hearts overflowing, and anyone seeking a deeply moving tale of resilience and hope won't want to miss it.

Reading "The One and Only Family" was like returning home after being away for awhile. It felt comfortable rejoining Ivan, Ruby, and Bob in another story about their lives. I am so thrilled to have one more story in this series. Seeing how Ivan is adjusting to live at the zoo and now as a dad of twins- it was just something so special. Thank you to Katherine Applegate for once again blessing us all with her gift of story. It's perfection.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an e-arc of The One and Only Family. I have enjoyed this fast-paced series written in verse. Each one allows the reader to truly understand the characters and what makes them each unique. This one revolves around Ivans relationship with Kinyani and then his relationship with his twins (Tuma and Raji). The worries he has and how much is he willing to tell his twins about his past. Ivan ultimately discovers the importance of stories and that as Kinyani tells him, "it's not about protecting [the twins] from the world, it's preparing them for it". A hard lesson for any parent, as parents human, animal, etc. can't protect their young from every single aspect of the world, it is not possible. A great book to end the One and Only Quartet. Thank you Katherine Applegate for writing this truly powerful series.

“I am Ivan. And I am a dad.”
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Ivan gets to see Ruby and Bob as he continues to live his life in the wildlife sanctuary. He has his mate, Kinyani, and life is so much better than it used to be. When Ivan finds out he’s going to be a father, he immediately starts worrying about what kind of dad he’s going to be. When the twins are born, everything Ivan thought he knew is thrown at the window. It’s a terrifying, yet wondrous experience, but Ivan constantly wonders how much he should share with the twins about his past. In protecting them, he also not being honest. How will Ivan protect his kids but also prepare them for the world?
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I’m so sad this masterful MG quartet by @kaaauthor is ending. I’ve been with Ivan since book 1 and am going to miss him and his extended family. This novel made me laugh and cry and was the perfect way to end this series. This title releases May 7. 5 ⭐️

CW: death (recounted), captivity, climate crisis, endangered animals, blood

The One and Only Family is a fitting conclusion to a series that has filled so many hearts from the moment Ivan was introduced to the world. Katherine Applegate’s beloved and wise characters give us a perfect handbook on how to be a good being in a world that isn’t always fair and often very confusing. We should all strive to be more like them.