SYNOPSIS

After his best friend, Ivan the Gorilla, is freed from a failing circus and settled into a beautiful nearby zoo, Bob the homeless mutt is adopted by Julia and her family. Bob and Julia visit Ivan at the zoo almost daily, and get to witness Ivan’s happy adjustment to a life of semi-wilderness among friends of all species. 

A powerful hurricane wreaks havoc on the zoo during one of Bob and Julia’s visits there, and humans and animals fevereshly work together to rescue each other. While our heroes make it out safe, not everyone does. Bob mourns the loss of one friend, and discovers love in another.

(Sequel to The One and Only Ivan)

PERFECT AGE 9 – 14

THEMES

• Dogs are loyal, caring, sensitive friends with a killer sense of humor
• All animals have feelings and thoughts
• We survive together by helping each other

We love

• Bob almost instantaneously makes you want to be his friend, his protector, his caregiver – he describes the pain of so many homeless animals mistreated by humans
• Antropomorphizing animals somehow doesn’t feel “fake” or forced but very humanizing for the reader, too
• Such an inspiring book to teach young people empathy, kindness and a shift in perspective toward animals
• Is that a sequel to the sequel I see in the last line???

WATCH OUT FOR (Language, Big / Sensitive Topics, Outdated Concepts):

• After his puppy litter was vandalized, Bob survives by accident and for years lives in peril
• The hurricane spares all humans but some of the familiar animal characters don’t make it alive. Bob grieves for one of them in particular
• Think about how you want to address weighty topics like animal cruelty and grief with your reader before starting the book…

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• How do you think Ivan and Bob are similar? Different? Why do you think they make such great friends?
• Which is your favorite zoo animal (besides Ivan, of course)? Why?
• How do you know who your best friend is? 
• Boss seems like a dog with a unique personality. Can you come up with some words to describe her? What words would Bob use to describe her?