Ida, Always

Starred review from November 30, 2015
Inspired by two polar bears that lived in New York City’s Central Park Zoo several years ago, Levis (Stuck with the Blooz) takes readers on a reassuring emotional journey that explores friendship, love, and loss. Polar bears Ida and Gus spend their days playing, splashing, and listening to the sounds of the city, but everything changes when Ida becomes terminally ill. Echoing the stages of grief, the friends stomp and snarl upon learning the bad news, then come to an exhausted, quiet acceptance as they begin to share Ida’s dwindling time. Levis’s characterization of caring, supportive friends is spot on; the bears give each other “a moment alone” when needed, and express how much they’ll miss each other. The description of Ida’s passing is brief, poignant, and gentle, as is Gus’s adjustment to life without his best friend. Santoso (I Don’t Like Koala) creates gauzy backgrounds featuring the city skyline and the zoo’s greenery, and his slightly anthropomorphic bears convey a wealth of feeling through their expressive eyes, smiles, and body language. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Emily Mitchell, Wernick & Pratt Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Associates.

December 1, 2015
This is a picture book about loss and grief, so it is probably not a coincidence that it is pictorially dominated by skies. Santoso paints amazing skies. There's a spectacular view of the sky on almost every page of the story. When the sky isn't visible, it's usually reflected in a pool of water. They're city skies, so the clouds are shaped like buses and taxis, but sometimes they look like bears chasing each other through the air. This is apt, as the main characters in the book are Gus and Ida, two polar bears living in the city zoo. Some days, Ida is too weak to swim or play, and sometimes she coughs or sleeps too long. The book is very blunt about what's happening: "one day, when her body stopped working, Ida would die." Levis writes about death and the bears' mutual devotion with surprising beauty: "There were growling days and laughing days / and days that mixed them up." But some of the most affecting passages are hardly poetic at all. Gus' distress is emphasized in large, bold type: " 'Don't go, ' he growled. 'Don't go, don't go...DON'T!' " The final image shows Gus beneath a cloud shaped like a lone bear. The text says: "And Ida is right there. Always." If the text is occasionally sentimental or overwritten, the pictures are so simple they're heartbreaking. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from January 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-Loosely based on Gus and Ida, the polar bears who lived at the Central Park Zoo until Ida's death in 2011 and Gus's death in 2013, this frank yet sensitive work explores loss and affirms the power of friendship. Pals Ida and Gus do everything together, until one day Gus discovers his companion is sick. Zookeeper Sonya explains that though she and the other workers will make sure Ida isn't in any pain, they can't cure her and over time, Ida will eventually weaken and die. While the tone is gentle, Levis is honest about the turmoil and anguish of terminal illness: though Gus and Ida make the most of their moments together, there are days where they feel sad and frustrated and times when both bears need to be alone. The quiet, lyrical text is complemented by the soft, evocative visuals. Digitally rendered, the illustrations have a painterly feel and make effective use of color. The settings-sunsets, overcast days, and, when Ida passes away, a rainy morning-reinforce the mood well. Santoso's design is particularly inspired, with good use of the gutter and perspective. Gus and Ida are cute and have sweetly expressive faces, but they aren't overly anthropomorphized, nor does Santoso play up the adorable factor to gloss over the painful narrative. Although Gus experiences real loss upon Ida's death, the book ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing the strength of the friendship and Gus's memories of Ida. VERDICT A tender and honest portrayal of coming to terms with death.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2016
Preschool-G Inspired by the true story of a couple of polar bears in Manhattan's Central Park Zoo, this tender picture book tells the story of two friends, Gus and Ida. They spend every day together, playing ball, chasing each other, and listening to the sounds of the city. But one day, Ida doesn't come out of her cave. Gus waits and waits, and eventually, zookeeper Sonya comes to explain that Ida is very sick, and she won't get better. Gus and Ida process the news ( There were growling days and laughing days and days that mixed them up ). Ida spends a lot of time sleeping, and Gus brings her all of her favorite things. And one day, Ida isn't there anymore. This simple story of bereavement and friendship is made even more affecting by its richly colored, quiet illustrations: double-page spreads show the bears in their enclosure, framed by the New York skyline. On other pages, it's just Gus and Ida together against a white background. A heartfelt and powerful depiction of loss and recovery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)