(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. After The One and Only Ivan (rev. 1/12) and The One and Only Bob (rev. 7/20), it's now young elephant Ruby's turn to tell her story. Having relocated to a new wildlife park in Florida (with Ivan, the silverback gorilla; and Bob, the wisecracking dog), Ruby has been adopted into a new elephant herd. Tuskday (the "traditional celebration after the arrival of a young elephant's tusks") is fast approaching, and she is exceptionally anxious about the rite of passage. Ruby gets an unexpected visitor one day when Jabori, who cared for her in an elephant orphanage in Africa, comes to visit. This joyful reunion provides the impetus for her to share the full story of her traumatic past, beginning with her mother being hunted and killed for her tusks. A conversation with the wise matriarch of the wildlife park's herd gives Ruby the courage to proceed with the Tuskday celebration. The book features Applegate's trademark verse-prose; appealing spot illustrations; and the hallmark themes of the series: adversity, trauma, friendship, resilience, and hope. An author's note discusses the plight of elephants in captivity and the continuing devastation of the ivory trade in the wild.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. Applegate revisits the beloved cast of characters from her Newbery Medal–winning The One and Only Ivan (rev. 1/12), but this time from a different viewpoint. Bob, the tenacious mutt ("some Chihuahua, with a smidgen of papillon") who befriended gorilla Ivan and baby elephant Ruby in the first book, narrates: he has a wisecracking voice akin to that of a hardboiled fictional detective, and the text is broken up on the pages with the look and rhythm of prose poems. ("Look, nobody's ever accused me of being a good dog. / I bark at empty air. I eat cat litter. I roll in garbage to enhance my aroma. / ...I'm no saint, okay?"). Like Ivan and Ruby, who now live in a nearby animal sanctuary (after being rescued from a dismal mall exhibit in the previous book), Bob's life has taken a turn for the better: he's been adopted by a family after many years of being a stray. In truth, his crusty exterior belies puppyhood trauma. When a hurricane strikes and devastates the sanctuary during one of Bob's visits, those past demons come to the surface, giving Applegate the opportunity to explore the novel's themes of forgiveness, redemption, and heroism. A playful canine glossary ("head tilt: quizzical look employed to charm gullible humans") and expressive spot illustrations further enhance the appeal of this sequel.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. The Newbery Medal–winning novel about a gorilla and an elephant, kept captive on display in a shopping mall, is reissued in an oversize edition in which the original illustrations are printed in full color. Larger trim size means larger font and expanses of white space--and a serious heft factor. Back matter includes Applegate's acceptance speech and a letter from the real Ivan's zookeeper.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2012

(3) 1-3 Stepping Stone series. Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. Lindy Michaels is not happy about moving from Chicago to her family's new oceanfront home in South Carolina. But when she helps save mermaids Sealily and Coral during a bad rainstorm, her attitude changes. Later the mermaids return the favor, sealing the trio's new friendship. This fantastical chapter book includes a nice mix of humor and action paired with cheerful black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. In short chapters that have the look and feel of prose poems, Applegate captures the voice of Ivan, a captive gorilla who lives at the "Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade." When a new baby elephant arrives, Ivan realizes they deserve more than their restrictive environment. Ivan's range of thoughts and emotions poses important questions about kinship and humanity.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2012

(3) 1-3 Rainbow Street Shelter series. Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. In Abandoned! (a prequel to this series) young Mona raises a needy lion cub, which leads her to open the Rainbow Street Shelter as an adult. In Stolen!, horse-obsessed Amy finds abducted pony Pebbles ditched in a park and brings her to the loving shelter. Simple, illustrated chapters will appeal to young readers, and the engaging plots will resonate with animal lovers. Review covers these Rainbow Street Shelter titles: Abandoned! and Stolen!.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) 1-3 Rainbow Street Shelter series. Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. At the animal shelter, Sam finds the perfect pet, a fat black guinea pig. She loves and takes excellent care of Henry but soon realizes he is lonely whenever she's not home. Solution: a second adoptee, this time for Sam's little brother, Liam. An accessible book for emerging-reader animal lovers, with tips on care and treatment an added bonus.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(3) 1-3 Rainbow Street Shelter series. Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. In Abandoned! (a prequel to this series) young Mona raises a needy lion cub, which leads her to open the Rainbow Street Shelter as an adult. In Stolen!, horse-obsessed Amy finds abducted pony Pebbles ditched in a park and brings her to the loving shelter. Simple, illustrated chapters will appeal to young readers, and the engaging plots will resonate with animal lovers. Review covers these Rainbow Street Shelter titles: Abandoned! and Stolen!.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Patricia Castelao. Pierre and his daughter Marie transform Fred the ghost's dusty, creaky old New Orleans home into a bright and busy restaurant. His dinnertime hauntings, rather than scaring diners away, are outrageously original, and they turn the restaurant into a five-star success. Hazy, Disneyesque illustrations are more successful than the text at evoking New Orleans both of old and today.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden