The first thing to point out here is that this is a sweet story with a lot to offer, but it is definitely a sad, melancholy feel. This follows throughout, but is heavier in certain parts, such as when one of the most beloved animals dies early on. A couple of animals wonder sadly if they will die in their cages. This isn’t for everyone and you will need to determine if this is a good fit for your particular child.
The book has a bit of focus around mistreatment of animals. When this happens on the earth it is a failure of our God-given call to exercise loving dominion over the earth. That being said, a secular story may not be what Christian parents want addressing this with their children. This sticks out quite a bit because there really are very few solid human characters involved in the plot. It at least needs to be pointed out to our children that this is not the full story (at one point Ruby even contributes to this when she tells of a human saving her). Here is a bit of content to help give the feel of this. When Ruby enters the story, she tells Ivan and Bob that her parents and extended family are dead. She bluntly adds, “Humans killed them” to which Bob replies, “Who else?”. This continues to come up. This book also describes some mistreatment of animals a bit more directly. We are told of animals being hit with a “claw-stick” as a punishment for not performing. It mentions it rips the skin of the animal (although this is handled as gently as it can be). Ivan remembers the death of his parents (“We were clinging to our mother when the humans killed her. They shot my father next. They chopped off their hands and their feet, their heads” then pointing out that the gift shop sells ashtrays made from gorilla hands). At one point we are told “a good zoo is how humans make amends”.
A few other things that we wanted to point out:
Kids wish on pennies and then throw them into a fountain
Ivan has a TV in his enclosure. He tells young readers that he had watched a romance movie and that sometimes there is “face licking”.
Ivan describes himself as lucky when something good happens.
When talking about a boy we read “He was, after all, just another great ape”
The unkind character in the book remarks, “idiot elephant” to which Bob replies, “Idiot human”.
Ivan is peaceful, but realizes he “could tear a grown man’s limbs off his body”.