The One and Only Family

Bob is a dog who is “tiny and acorn-brown, with big ears and even bigger opinions” (13). Since they met in the first book of the series, Bob and Ivan have been inseparable pals. They share the experience of neglect and understand each other in a unique way. The support they’ve lent one another over the years has built a sturdy bond, highlighting The Importance of Relationships and Friendship.

Bob represents the value of true friends. In The One and Only Family, Ivan sees Bob less than in previous books due to their living arrangements, but this doesn’t dampen the relationship. When the two are together, they make time count, offering advice and wisdom. In particular, Bob gives Ivan tips for becoming a parent. Though Bob doesn’t have pups of his own, he has a nephew he cares for, which has given him insight into what it means to care for someone who needs him. While Ivan appreciates Bob’s input, he feels like his experience is different. They clash, illustrating how even good friends can have arguments. When Ivan and Bob resolve their disagreement, the narrative illustrates that their friendship is more important than their differing opinions.

Kinyani is Ivan’s mate, a small female gorilla with “thick, bark-colored fur and a stern way of cocking her head when she’s had enough of your silliness” (18). Throughout the book, Ivan refers to Kinyani as a partner, which he means in several ways. Most obviously, Kinyani is the mother of Ivan’s children, and the two share the responsibility and struggle of taking care of the twins. More deeply, Kinyani is also a confidant and a friend. Like Ivan, Kinyani had a troubled past with humans. However, Kinyani never spent time in the wild. Although she realizes that the zoo isn’t the same as freedom, she is content to be somewhere safe. In this way, she and Ivan are not entirely aligned.

This poses the main conflict between Ivan and Kinyani. When the twins are born, Ivan worries about what being captive will mean for them. Kinyani also thinks about this. However, since she doesn’t know what it means to be truly wild and free, she is quicker to accept that the twins will never live as free gorillas do. Kinyani’s initial struggle to understand what is expected of her as a mother shows how captivity interferes with instincts. In the wild, Kinyani would adapt to motherhood and receive help from her troopmates. In captivity, Kinyani isn’t sure what to do until the humans teach her. This illustrates how she relies on humans in ways that she wouldn’t under normal circumstances.

Ruby is a young adult elephant friend of Ivan and Bob. Throughout the series, Ivan has played a parental role to her. Ruby, in getting older, represents how nothing stays the same and how children grow up quickly. Rather than a youngster who needs looking after, Ruby has grown into a responsible member of her herd. Frequently, Ivan is surprised by Ruby’s maturity and wisdom. This makes their relationship bittersweet, as he realizes that Ruby doesn’t need his care anymore.

Ruby’s greatest struggle is dealing with the baby elephant who tags along everywhere she goes. As Bob and Ivan point out, the baby is much like Ruby was when she was younger, and in this way, Ruby represents how adulthood comes with self-awareness. Now that Ruby is grown, her relationships with Ivan and Bob are more like ones between equals. She better understands the troubled backstory that the three share, and her ability to offer support and advice shows how friendships change over time.

Raji and Tuma are Ivan’s twin children. They represent Ivan’s transition to parenthood and the struggles that Ivan faces trying to raise them as honestly and authentically as he can. Raji’s adventurous nature causes Ivan strife because he constantly worries for her safety, while Tuma’s inquisitive questions keep Ivan on his toes. Together, the twins reflect how ideas and understanding change with generations. Where Ivan recalls the wild and worries that his children are missing a part of themselves, Raji and Tuma believe that the zoo is their rightful home because it is all they know from the moment they are born. Raji and Tuma accept the role that humans play in their lives and even see human-made constructs, such as the special sick cage in Chapter 82, as part of their natural world. In contrast, Ivan chafes at such things.