It’s been a long journey for Katherine Applegate and her The One and Only books. The One and Only Ivan, the story of a silverback gorilla who has been kept in captivity at a shopping mall for 27 years, came out in 2012 and won the 2013 Newbery Medal. The One and Only Bob and The One and Only Ruby followed in 2020 and 2023, and The One and Only Family, published in May with a 500,000-copy first printing, brought the series to a close. Last month Applegate embarked on an eight-city tour; she visited 17 schools and spoke to more than 5,000 students, and held nine public events attended by more than 1,500 fans. Here we present some photo highlights from her tour.
Applegate kicked off her tour in Denver with The Bookies, with two school visits and, shown here, an evening event at Smoky Hill Library. Photo: Andrea Perry.
Her event with Interabang Books in Dallas was held at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church.
In Fairhope, Ala., Applegate visited two schools and had an evening public event at Page & Palette bookstore. Here she visits Bayside Academy in nearby Daphne, where she spoke to 400 students in grades two to six.
Applegate with media specialist Terri Frank (l.) after presenting to nearly 500 students at J. Larry Newton Elementary School in Fairhope.
Applegate spent two days in the Twin Cities visiting four schools, culminating with an evening event at the Ramsey County Public Library. From her visit to Red Balloon in St. Paul: (from l.) store owner Holly Weinkauf, Applegate, and events manager Claire O’Brien.
Greeting a student at Brookfield East High School in Milwaukee. Photo: Eric Hagen, Elmbrook Schools.
Applegate’s Milwaukee public event was held at the Glenview Public Library in partnership with Boswell Book Company.
An appearance at Barnes & Noble in Oak Brook, Ill.
Applegate’s tour ended with a visit to Vancouver, Canada, with a public event and four school visits, coordinated by Kidsbooks. Here Applegate poses with Carrie LaPierre (r.), a teacher at Henry Anderson Elementary School.
