Staff Reviews

We should all be so lucky to have a friend like Ivan. He keeps his word. He listens. He cheers up his pals when they are sad. He accepts every one of them just the way they are. Plus he is a gorilla and an artist....which would make having him as a friend that much more fun! This book is his autobiography. It is at heart, a story of friendships--albeit unlikely ones. Ivan lives in a cage at a roadside mall, alongside his buddies--Stella, an aging elephant and Bob, a stray dog. He has lived there 27 years. He has come to accept his lot in life. He is not a complainer, and he takes joy in small pleasures like his tire swing. But old memories of a different life come to the surface with the arrival of a new member to the sideshow.. She will make Ivan reconsider his purpose, and ultimately change his life and the lives of his friends. This is a heartwarming book that made me think about my own close friendships. It is a reminder not to take any of them for granted, and to appreciate the differences that make each one of them special. It is also a reminder to take note of the beauty around us, and to make each and every day a work of art--even if the world is just offering up mud and dirt!