Ida, Always

Ida, Always tells the story of two polar bears living in an urban zoo - Gus and his close companion Ida. They spend their days playing together, observing city life from their enclosure, and sharing a deep friendship. When circumstances threaten to separate them, Gus must learn to process complex emotions and cope with impending change. The story follows his journey of understanding, remembering, and moving forward. Through gentle prose and expressive illustrations, this picture book addresses grief and loss in a way that resonates with young readers. The text tackles difficult subject matter while maintaining hope and celebrating the lasting impact of meaningful relationships.

Readers describe this book as a helpful tool for discussing death and grief with young children. Parents and teachers report it opens conversations about loss while remaining gentle and age-appropriate. Readers appreciated: - The realistic portrayal of friendship - Charles Santoso's illustrations capturing emotion - Balance between sadness and hope - Concrete examples of coping with loss - Focus on remembering happy moments Common criticisms: - Too emotionally intense for some young readers - Some parents wanted more religious/spiritual elements - A few found the metaphors confusing for toddlers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.39/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.9/5 (750+ ratings) School Library Journal: Starred Review Sample reader comment: "This book helped my 5-year-old process her grandfather's death. She relates to how Gus misses Ida but can still feel her presence." - Amazon reviewer Several teachers noted using it successfully in classroom discussions about pet deaths and family losses.

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🐻 The story is inspired by real polar bears, Ida and Gus, who lived together at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. 🏙️ Author Caron Levis visited the real Gus at the Central Park Zoo multiple times while writing the book to observe his behaviors and mannerisms. 📚 The book has become a widely-used resource for helping children cope with grief and loss, being utilized by schools, libraries, and grief counselors. 🎨 Illustrator Charles Santoso created the artwork using digital techniques to capture both the urban setting and the tender relationship between the two bears. 💫 When the real Ida passed away in 2011, Gus experienced signs of depression and was given enrichment activities by zookeepers to help him cope with his loss.