The One and Only Ivan - what does this mean?
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Anonymous
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Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but please settle this hot family debate.
For those who don't know, it's a kid's book and the main character is a gorilla named Ivan who lives in a little circus in the mall. He observes humans shopping at the mall. He says "They pass their green paper, dry as old leaves and smelling of a thousand hands, back and forth and back again." This is dollar bills, right? He says, "They spin pink clouds you can eat." So that is cotton candy.... But what is THIS: "They build domains with flat waterfalls." What do you think? |
Anonymous
| Is this a school assignment or an actual family debate? Have you googled it? |
Anonymous
| Windows |
Anonymous
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Swimming pools, maybe?
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Anonymous
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Is this a picture book? If so, do the pictures give any clues?
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Anonymous
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Could it be a water feature in a mall, like a little indoor stream?
I first read it as the structure was built out of flat waterfalls, and could only picture those glass blocks that were popular in the 80s. But it could also be read as the domains have something that look like flat waterfalls in them. |
Anonymous
| You have too much time on your hands. |
Anonymous
This. |
Anonymous
| In a mall? It’s a fountain. |
Anonymous
Correct. Domain is the place you live. In his natural domain, the clear, see-through thing of substance is water. Vertical water is a waterfall. In the fake domain, he sees a flat vertical thing of substance he can see through, so it is a flat waterfall. |
Anonymous
Q&A like this makes for a good book discussion. If you haven't read the story, it's an amazing book for elem. age kids. OP--if you go back to the previous chapter, Ivan is talking about his domain which humans built. "A jungle scene is painted on one of my domain walls. It has a waterfall without water......" Humans have built Ivan a domain with a flat waterfall. |
Anonymous
I think this is it. We considered the idea of an indoor water feature, like a little pond or stream, but why would he think that's a waterfall? For a long time I was in favor of it being the empty parking lots -- like it might look like water if he sees them at night? -- but neither the kids nor my husband were feeling that.  The wall of glass seems like a good possibility, but he also talk about that glass as glass (he says it separates the humans from him), so he understands it's not water. I"m going to go back and see if I can find this part.
It really is a oood book. So far the whole family is enjoying it. |
Anonymous
Yes. Also to everyone else, read the book. It's a great read aloud for your family. |
Anonymous
| It's a VERY good book, but a difficult read, IMO (emotionally). |
Anonymous
| THIS: "OP--if you go back to the previous chapter, Ivan is talking about his domain which humans built. "A jungle scene is painted on one of my domain walls. It has a waterfall without water......" Humans have built Ivan a domain with a flat waterfall." And you are correct on dollar bills & cotton candy/fairy floss |