THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN

Author:  Katherine Applegate  

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy, Standalone 

Published:  2012

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Adam Grupper

Yearly Count:  55

Ivan, the gorilla, makes a promise to a fellow elephant friend.  And promises are forever.

Not my thing.  I don't like personification, and ALL the animals talk in this one.  UGH.

It makes me like Crenshaw even more.  Crenshaw does talk, but not a lot, and of course, we know that he's just in the little boy's imagination.

Thoughts of Joy

CRENSHAW

Author:  Katherine Applegate  

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy, Standalone 

Published:  2015

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format/Narrator:  Audiobook/Kirby Heyborne

Yearly Count:  54

Jackson has an imaginary friend named Crenshaw.  Crenshaw is a very large cat.

This seriously is a great book for 3rd - 5th grade.  Personally, I would have liked to have "seen" much, much more of Crenshaw.  Loved his character.  A bit more activity would have made me happier, too.  However, I'm not the target, sooooo ... .  Lots and lots to talk about with the kiddos though - making for a great classroom book or child at home.  The narrator Kirby Heyborne was perfect!

Thoughts of Joy