There are humorous moments, charming ones, as well as touching ones. Ruby is especially nervous about having to give a speech, which would be hard enough to come up with, but actually giving it is what is terrifying.Īnd so Ruby goes to find a place to hide, which, let’s face it, isn’t really easy for even the tiniest elephant.Īt its heart, this is a story of family, a story of love, loss and finding your tribe, as well as finding oneself. The elders consider it to be a customary tradition, handed down through the years as their tusks appear, but Ruby doesn’t like it even if it is a ceremony celebrating a rite of passage. Ruby isn’t happy being called a ’Tusky’, though, and would prefer to be just Ruby. This is the story of a young elephant, the littlest elephant as this story begins, a ’Tusky’ by the name of Ruby. ’I can watch elephants (and elephants alone) for hours at a time, for sooner or later the elephant will do something very strange…There is mystery behind that masked gray visage, and ancient life force, delicate and mighty, awesome and enchanted, commanding the silence ordinarily reserved for mountain peaks, great fires, and the sea.’ - Peter Matthiessen ’Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant the only harmless great thing.’ - John Dunne ’If anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people, only more so.’ - Pierre Corneille

This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, for independent reading, homeschooling, and sharing in the classroom.ĭon't miss the film adaptation of The One and Only Ivan, now streaming on Disney+! The One and Only Ruby features first-person narrative author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery) and story elements (plot, character development, perspective). Artist Patricia Castelao returns to the world of Ivan and his friends with gorgeous black-and-white interior illustrations to complete the story. In the timeless way that only Katherine Applegate could craft, this highly anticipated novel in verse is the perfect mix of heartfelt and humorous, poignant and sweet. Seeing him again brings back a flood of memories both happy and sad of her life before the circus, and she recounts the time she spent in the African savannah to Ivan and Bob.

Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, Ruby's caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she grew up is visiting. Ruby's story picks up a few months after the events of The One and Only Bob. From beloved powerhouse author Katherine Applegate comes The One and Only Ruby, starring the adorable baby elephant from the Newbery Medal-winning modern classic The One and Only Ivan and its bestselling sequel, The One and Only Bob.

The one and only ruby book