Cover of The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan

by Katherine Applegate

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate is assigned in US schools at grades 3–7, with a Lexile measure of 570L. It appears across 9 curriculum references and 8 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where The One and Only Ivan is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Lexile
570L
Grade range
Grades 3–7
Difficulty for grade
Within the grade 2–3 band (420–820L)
Age range
Ages 8–12
Pages
320
Reading time
about 5h 50m (est.)
First published
2012
Genre
Middle Grade Animal Fiction
ISBN-13
9780061992254

Reading difficulty: At 570L, The One and Only Ivan falls within the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge.

Buy on AmazonListen free on Audible

Where to find this book

Buy on AmazonPrime · 1-clickListen free on Audible30-day trial

Audible: new members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership.

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

About this book

Ivan, a silverback gorilla, lives in a mall enclosure with an elephant and a stray dog. Inspired by a real captive gorilla at a Tacoma mall, Applegate's 2013 Newbery Medal winner is a fixture of 3-5 grade read-alouds and a near-default text for empathy + animal-welfare units.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Animal Fiction title, reads at early-reader complexity, typically at grades 3–7. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on animal welfare and captivity and freedom; cited across 9 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

animal welfare · captivity and freedom · friendship across species · empathy · art and storytelling

Content notes

death of animal companion · captivity

Common Sense Media recommends age 9+.

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

See all books like The One and Only Ivan→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is The One and Only Ivan?
The One and Only Ivan is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–7, with a Lexile measure of 570L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
What is the Lexile level of The One and Only Ivan?
The One and Only Ivan has a Lexile measure of 570L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
How long does it take to read The One and Only Ivan?
It takes about 5h 50m to read The One and Only Ivan (320 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 350 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is The One and Only Ivan hard to read for 3rd grade?
At 570L, The One and Only Ivan falls within the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
What curricula assign The One and Only Ivan?
The One and Only Ivan appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA), Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award, Garden State Children's Book Award, and 6 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Why this book is on this list

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
570L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades 3–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 9 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 8 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club.