"Gently paced, with moving but reassuring images, this is an age-appropriate introduction to the issues of captivity and animal welfare."  — Kirkus Reviews

“Applegate's spare text gives readers just enough grounding to follow Ivan's journey, while Karas's artwork fills in Ivan's emotional life through the gorilla's engaged expressions and body language--no image more triumphant than Ivan's release into Zoo Atlanta. A heartfelt tribute to a magnificent animal.” — Shelf Awareness, starred review  

"The text is streamlined but powerful, and younger kids who aren’t up for the linguistic and emotional challenges of Applegate’s fictional account of Ivan will find this a thoughtful and intriguing introduction; older readers who have read The One and Only Ivan may enjoy it as well."  — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books