Description

About the Author

Katherine Applegate’s many books include the Roscoe Riley Rules chapter book series, the picture book The Buffalo Storm, and the award-winning novel Home of the Brave. With her husband, Michael Grant, she wrote the hugely popular series Animorphs, which has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide.

Katherine was inspired to write The One and Only Ivan after reading about the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, the Shopping Mall Gorilla. The real Ivan lived alone in a tiny cage for twenty-seven years at a shopping mall before being moved to Zoo Atlanta after a public outcry. He is now a beloved celebrity at the zoo, which houses the nation’s largest collection of western lowland gorillas. Ivan is well known for his paintings, which he “signs” with a thumb-print.

Katherine lives in California with her husband and two children.

Praise for Roscoe Riley Rules #7: Never Race a Runaway Pumpkin…

“Applegate’s writing is strong and lively, and the short sentences, funny situations, and frequent appearance of pictures will make this series an easy sell to novice readers.”
-Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Fun reads. Good choices for children transitioning from beginning readers to chapter books.”
-School Library Journal

“Roscoe is an appealing, lively kid whose story is both entertaining and thought-provoking.”
-Booklist