When I saw THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY by Katherine Applegate on display at this year’s American Library Association Annual Conference, and I could hardly contain my excitement. It follows Ivan as he starts a family, and it has gotten starred reviews in both Booklist and School Library Journal. I’ve also featured some of the series’ previous books, including The One and Only Bob, and The One and Only Ruby, as well as Dogtown, Katherine Applegate’s collaboration with Gennifer Choldenko.
Ivan has been happily living in a wildlife sanctuary, with his friend Ruby next door in the elephant enclosure, frequent visits from his canine friend Bob, and his mate Kinyani by his side. And in the happiest turn of all, Ivan and Kinyani have welcomed a set of twins to their family! Ivan loves being a papa, even though it can be hard sometimes. But as he navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood, he can’t help but recall his life before the glass walls of the mall circus, his own childhood in the jungle—and his own twin. In the tradition of timeless classics like Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little , the one and only Katherine Applegate has crafted a poignant, delightful, heartbreaking, unforgettable final foray into the world of Ivan, the world’s favorite silverback.
In our last interview, you said, “The Bay Area…is truly a remarkable book-lovers paradise.” What demonstrates this, in your experience?
When you’re wandering the area, it sometimes feels like there’s a bookstore on every corner. Each one has its own special vibe: cozy, expansive, child-focused, vintage. There are so many fantastic indies, it can pose a real threat to your wallet. I speak from experience.
I’ve had that experience too! THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY explores Ivan’s experience with parenthood. In what ways has Ivan’s story evolved in ways you didn’t expect?
While I knew the real Ivan was never a parent, it felt like a lovely way to bring his story full-circle. I envisioned a sweet, light-hearted closing novel with lots of charming family vignettes. What could be more entertaining than the antics of twin toddler gorillas?
But the more I worked on the story, the more I realized I would need to explore the ways Ivan has to reconcile his dark, complicated past with his hopes for the twins. How honest should we be with our kids when they ask hard questions? How do we prepare them for an uncertain future? How do we balance protecting and preparing?
I never dreamed I’d end up writing 4 linked novels about Ivan. It’s been fascinating, and a true honor.
How wonderful. You and Gennifer Choldenko will also be releasing a sequel to Dogtown this fall, entitled A Mouse and His Dog. What, in your experience, is the most challenging part of writing a sequel, particularly when collaborating with another author?
Sequels pose their own unique challenges. Readers want to return to the things they most loved about the original, but they also want fresh adventures. They want reassurance, but they also want to be challenged.
That said, for writers, it’s great fun to return to a group of characters you already know and love.
Gennifer is—and I’m not just saying this!—the ideal collaborator. She is endlessly energetic and inventive, which is especially great when plotting (not my strong point) gets frustrating. And she is hilarious.
If you’re going to work with another writer on a project, be sure you make each other laugh, because that’s the real key to success.
Sounds like the ideal way to work! Are there any kinds of stories/genres you haven’t explored yet in your writing that you would like to?
I love poetry. Don’t claim to understand much about it. Don’t even claim to understand most of it. But I’d sure like to know more.
More generally, I’ve written for many ages, but I always return to middle grade. Those readers are my sweet spot: generous but exacting, open-minded but honest, and willing to go anywhere you want to take them, as long as the ride is full of joy. Right now, there’s no place I’d rather be.
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