Get to Know Gorillas After Streaming The One and Only Ivan Now on Disney+

The One and Only Ivan released on Disney+ this weekend and it’s a perfect film for the whole family. I am probably of the minority that loves book to film adaptations. Though I’ve never read The One and Only Ivan, I was excited to watch this when I saw the previews. My children are BIG animal lovers and I knew this would be a movie the whole family enjoyed. Since I’ve also been big about learning through movies, (Disney+ is FULL of educational content) I knew this would also be a great learning opportunity for them as well. While The One and Only Ivan is full of lessons, learning about the western lowland gorilla piqued the boys interest the most. At the end this post you can download the free printable activity packet we used.

About The One and Only Ivan

An adaptation of the award-winning book about one very special gorilla, Disney’s THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN is an unforgettable tale about the beauty of friendship, the power of visualization and the significance of the place one calls home. Ivan is a 400-pound silverback gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella the elephant, Bob the dog, and various other animals. He has few memories of the jungle where he was captured, but when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, it touches something deep within him. Ruby is recently separated from her family in the wild, which causes him to question his life, where he comes from and where he ultimately wants to be. The heartwarming adventure, which comes to the screen in an impressive hybrid of live-action and CGI, is based on Katherine Applegate’s bestselling book, which won numerous awards upon its publication in 2013, including the Newbery Medal.