Meet Ivan, a real silverback gorilla who lived an extraordinary life. Long before he became the beloved hero of a famous novel, Ivan was a baby gorilla in the lush jungles of Central Africa. But his life changed completely when he was brought to a busy shopping mall in Washington. For almost thirty years, he lived alone in a small indoor cage, watched by thousands of shoppers. This beautiful true story follows Ivan's journey from his quiet early days to his challenging life in the mall, and finally to a happy new home. Thanks to caring people who wanted him to have a better life, Ivan was eventually moved to a spacious gorilla habitat at Zoo Atlanta. You will be inspired by his resilience and the true meaning of freedom in this gentle, touching introduction to a very special animal who captured the hearts of people everywhere.