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Ida, Always
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Picture Books (2016)Gus lives in a big park in the middle of an even bigger city, and he spends his days with Ida. Ida is right there. Always.
Then one sad day, Gus learns that Ida is very sick, and she isn’t going to get better. The friends help each other face the difficult news with whispers, sniffles, cuddles, and even laughs. Slowly Gus realizes that even after Ida is gone, she will still be with him—through the sounds of their city, and the memories that live in their favorite spots.
Ida, Always is inspired by a real bear friendship.
Then one sad day, Gus learns that Ida is very sick, and she isn’t going to get better. The friends help each other face the difficult news with whispers, sniffles, cuddles, and even laughs. Slowly Gus realizes that even after Ida is gone, she will still be with him—through the sounds of their city, and the memories that live in their favorite spots.
Ida, Always is inspired by a real bear friendship.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2016
27 people are currently reading
2818 people want to read
About the author
Caron Levis
11 books51 followersCaron Levis is the author of the picture books, May I Have A Word? (FSG) Stuck with the Blooz (HMH) and Ida, Always (Atheneum) which the New York Times Book Review calls, "an example of children's books at their best." Forthcoming titles include Stop That Yawn! (Atheneum, 2018) and Mama's Shoes (Abrams 2019) Caron is an adjunct professor and the coordinator for The New School's Writing for Children/YA MFA program, where she earned her degree. She has an LMSW from Hunter College; after many years as an arts educator, Caron now loves using acting and writing to teach social, emotional, and literacy skills to students of all ages through her author workshops. Having trained in acting and dabbled in playwriting, Caron enjoys turning theatre techniques into writing tools through her workshop Act-Like-A-Writer. Visit her at www.caronlevis.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 747 reviews
September 9, 2017
Ida, Always by Caron Levis is a powerful children's picture book that I had a hard time finishing because I was overcome with emotion. Now that we've read it a handful of times, it's a pleasure.
This is a story for all ages and deals with grief and loss. The illustrations are beautiful and make the story feel heartfelt and present.
The author's note at the end is touching.
5*****
This is a story for all ages and deals with grief and loss. The illustrations are beautiful and make the story feel heartfelt and present.
The author's note at the end is touching.
5*****
June 5, 2018
Tender and sweet, sad yet comforting as Gus and Ida each come to terms with Ida's sickness and the end of her life. A touching story that brings tears to your eyes as you recall your own happy memories of friends gone by. True friendship remains forever in the heart.
March 2, 2016
I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING. THIS IS JUST RAIN ON MY FACE.
December 11, 2016
A wonderful story, true to life, heartwarming and heartbreaking all in one short story. I loved this book even though I cried through much of it. Excellent reading!
March 15, 2016
This book made me cry. Seriously, this has ALL THE FEELS. If you're uncomfortable about crying in public over a picture book, read this somewhere private.
It is beautifully written and focuses on two polar bears in a zoo and how their friendship changes when one gets sick. It deals with love and grief and loss and sadness, but tries to end on a hopeful note. I love this book. I LOVE IT. I could only give five stars, but my heart gives it a billion.
It is beautifully written and focuses on two polar bears in a zoo and how their friendship changes when one gets sick. It deals with love and grief and loss and sadness, but tries to end on a hopeful note. I love this book. I LOVE IT. I could only give five stars, but my heart gives it a billion.
November 18, 2016
Each year I and my family read and rate all the Goodreads picture book nominees. This one is nominated for 2016. I make a few comments and then add their separate ratings and a comment. There's 15 and this is the ninth being rated. My rating might be somewhat influenced by the family, naturally. For this book I actually rated it down a bit from my higher rating because the fam thought as a story it was just okay. Hard-hearted! :)
This is a book based on true story about two bears living in a zoo in NYC, one of which gets sick and eventually dies. This happens. But I am kind of a sap about these stories. I found it pretty touching, and in the direction of animal rights stories about what it is that animals actually can feel because these bears were well known as friends. There's nothing remarkable about the way it is told, simple, straightforward, but still sad. 4 1/2-5 stars.
Tara (my wife): 4 stars. Very sweet.
Harry (11): 5 stars. It almost made me cry.
Hank (10): 3 1/2 stars. I don't like sad stories.
Lyra (9): 3 stars. I cried when Ida died.
PS: After my having read all 20 books, this was my final vote for 2016 Goodreads picture book. Of the books available. My fave and the family's fave was A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins but it was no longer in the finals. This election year, all my choices haven't won. . .
This is a book based on true story about two bears living in a zoo in NYC, one of which gets sick and eventually dies. This happens. But I am kind of a sap about these stories. I found it pretty touching, and in the direction of animal rights stories about what it is that animals actually can feel because these bears were well known as friends. There's nothing remarkable about the way it is told, simple, straightforward, but still sad. 4 1/2-5 stars.
Tara (my wife): 4 stars. Very sweet.
Harry (11): 5 stars. It almost made me cry.
Hank (10): 3 1/2 stars. I don't like sad stories.
Lyra (9): 3 stars. I cried when Ida died.
PS: After my having read all 20 books, this was my final vote for 2016 Goodreads picture book. Of the books available. My fave and the family's fave was A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins but it was no longer in the finals. This election year, all my choices haven't won. . .
October 1, 2019
If I were to ONLY AND SOLEY consider the internal, deep down themes and featured lessons of Caron Levis' Ida, Always, I would definitely and with no reservations whatsoever consider it a sweetly gentle, as well as indeed also reassuring and tenderhearted story of how to deal with the impending death of a loved one (basically how Gus the polar bear learns to accept that his polar bear companion Ida is slowly but surely dying and actually equally how Ida also prepares herself for the time when she will no longer be there, when she will no longer be alive).
However, as sweet and as softly heartwarming (even if also by necessity at times sad and painful) Ida, Always has been as a general personal reading experience (and yes, I definitely do think that Ida, Always is a pretty successful and wonderful picture book to broach and discuss topics of mortality, death and loss with younger children in a for the most part non traumatic and reassuring manner), I have nevertheless (from where I stand with regard to animal characters in literature) also found Ida, Always as much much too anthropomorphic (because since Gus and Ida are both supposed to be real and bona fide polar bears, frankly, I for one have found them as they have been described and presented by author Caron Levis too non ursine and yes as such also considerably too human-like for my tastes).
Combined with the fact that although Charles Santoso's accompanying artwork is visually glowing and descriptive, to and for my eyes and my aesthetics, Ida and Gus look almost too cute and gentle to be polar bears (that they kind of appear almost like stuffed toys to an extent, like polar teddy bears), while I have indeed and in fact enjoyed and appreciated Ida, Always as a story and for what it intends to accomplish, the anthropomorphism depicted and shown by both the author and the illustrator, by both Caron Levis and Charles Santoso, this does take away from my reading enjoyment, namely albeit that I do find Ida, Always a sweet and heartwarming story, I would enjoy it oh so much more if Russ and Ida had been more ursine in nature and not so rather overtly and obviously humanised.
However, as sweet and as softly heartwarming (even if also by necessity at times sad and painful) Ida, Always has been as a general personal reading experience (and yes, I definitely do think that Ida, Always is a pretty successful and wonderful picture book to broach and discuss topics of mortality, death and loss with younger children in a for the most part non traumatic and reassuring manner), I have nevertheless (from where I stand with regard to animal characters in literature) also found Ida, Always as much much too anthropomorphic (because since Gus and Ida are both supposed to be real and bona fide polar bears, frankly, I for one have found them as they have been described and presented by author Caron Levis too non ursine and yes as such also considerably too human-like for my tastes).
Combined with the fact that although Charles Santoso's accompanying artwork is visually glowing and descriptive, to and for my eyes and my aesthetics, Ida and Gus look almost too cute and gentle to be polar bears (that they kind of appear almost like stuffed toys to an extent, like polar teddy bears), while I have indeed and in fact enjoyed and appreciated Ida, Always as a story and for what it intends to accomplish, the anthropomorphism depicted and shown by both the author and the illustrator, by both Caron Levis and Charles Santoso, this does take away from my reading enjoyment, namely albeit that I do find Ida, Always a sweet and heartwarming story, I would enjoy it oh so much more if Russ and Ida had been more ursine in nature and not so rather overtly and obviously humanised.
March 20, 2019
Easy to be cynical about the anthropomorphism and the pulling of the heart-strings, but I can't. I just adore the characters and the writing style and the gorgeous art... and the fact that it's true... too much to be other than enraptured. Highly recommended to animal lovers and anyone with a heart.
I do not recommend it as bibliotherapy in the immediate conjunction of a child's loss; it's too much, too intense. However, it'd be a great read at any other time, to be remembered as need arises.
I do not recommend it as bibliotherapy in the immediate conjunction of a child's loss; it's too much, too intense. However, it'd be a great read at any other time, to be remembered as need arises.
April 3, 2023
قلبم قلبم قلبممممم🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲💔
March 26, 2024
" یادش میآمد که آیدا میگفت نباید حتما چیزها را ببینی تا حسشان کنی. صدای پا روی پیاده رو ها و همهمه ی شهر به راه است. قلب گاس میتپد. و آیدا آنجاست. همیشه."
زیبا و دردناک
برای مواجهه ی کودک با جریان مرگ _شاید_ خوب باشه...
زیبا و دردناک
برای مواجهه ی کودک با جریان مرگ _شاید_ خوب باشه...
April 15, 2016
Extraordinary. Yes, it is sad. But it is hopeful. Santoso's illustrations are so warm there is an absolute comfort throughout the book. This will probably become a classic loss book. Deservedly so. Up there with The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst and Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant. Terrific writing on a super hard topic.
March 26, 2023
گاس و آیدای عزیزم🥹
کاش میتونستم الان بغلتون کنم و بدنِ نرمتون رو نوازش کنم🥲
من هیچوقت شما رو از پشت حصارهای سنترالپارک نیویورک تماشا نکردم ولی عشقتون رو از ورای نقاشیهای زیبای این کتاب حس کردم.
دوستای پشمالوی کیوتِمن، امیدوارم اگه دنیاهای دیگهای وجود داره، الان در حال بازی با توپِ زردِ محبوب آیدا باشین یا بعد از آببازی، توی آفتابِ قشنگِ بهار دراز کشیده باشین🫂🩵💙
دوستدارِ شما، رؤيا🫶
کاش میتونستم الان بغلتون کنم و بدنِ نرمتون رو نوازش کنم🥲
من هیچوقت شما رو از پشت حصارهای سنترالپارک نیویورک تماشا نکردم ولی عشقتون رو از ورای نقاشیهای زیبای این کتاب حس کردم.
دوستای پشمالوی کیوتِمن، امیدوارم اگه دنیاهای دیگهای وجود داره، الان در حال بازی با توپِ زردِ محبوب آیدا باشین یا بعد از آببازی، توی آفتابِ قشنگِ بهار دراز کشیده باشین🫂🩵💙
دوستدارِ شما، رؤيا🫶
February 7, 2017
That feel when picture books punch you right in the feels :')
May 10, 2025
با نقاشی های لطیف و نازش خیلی خوب از دست دادن رو نشون داد.
۲.۱۴۰۴
۲.۱۴۰۴
April 20, 2019
تو انبار شهر كتاب نشسته بودم كه ديدم اين كتاب اومد.اون قدر جلدش زيبا بود كه شروع كردم به خوندنش. بي نظير بود.
تقريبا از صفحه هاي مياني كتاب بود كه بخش بسيار غم انگيزش برام شروع شد.
به شدت مسحور داستان زيبا و تصويرپردازي هاي فوق العاده ش شدم.
تقريبا از صفحه هاي مياني كتاب بود كه بخش بسيار غم انگيزش برام شروع شد.
به شدت مسحور داستان زيبا و تصويرپردازي هاي فوق العاده ش شدم.
November 19, 2016
Review to come.
March 20, 2019
Gus was a polar bear who lived in a park in the midst of a big city. He spent his days with Ida, another polar bear in his enclosure. Every morning, Ida was there. She was there to play ball. She was there to splash and swim with him. She was there to run and chase. Ida was always there... until the day she became ill. As both Gus and Ida adjust to the idea that they will soon be parted, they confront the mystery of death - where will Ida be, once she is gone? - and the reality of loss. Gus's desolation, once Ida is indeed gone, is eventually tempered by the realization that in some ways, Ida is still with him - that she will always be with him.
Although somewhat anthropomorphized - there is a scene in which zoo-keeper Sonya explains Ida's illness to Gus - Ida, Always is essentially a true story, based on the lives of two real polar bears, who lived in New York City's Central Park Zoo. Gus, famous in real life for being the 'neurotic' bear for whom zoo-keeper brought in an animal psychologist, did indeed lose his close companion, Ida. But even without the added sense of authenticity that this real-life back-story provides, this is still an immensely moving tale of friendship and loss. I found myself tearing up, as I read Caron Levis' narrative, and thought that Charles Santoso's artwork captured Gus's changing emotions quite well. A lovely book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for a gentle narrative addressing the loss of a loved one.
Addendum: Readers might want to read the various articles that appeared, over the years, in The New York Times, concerning Gus:
Gus, the Lonely Polar Bear
Farewell to Gus, Whose Issues Made Him a Star
Although somewhat anthropomorphized - there is a scene in which zoo-keeper Sonya explains Ida's illness to Gus - Ida, Always is essentially a true story, based on the lives of two real polar bears, who lived in New York City's Central Park Zoo. Gus, famous in real life for being the 'neurotic' bear for whom zoo-keeper brought in an animal psychologist, did indeed lose his close companion, Ida. But even without the added sense of authenticity that this real-life back-story provides, this is still an immensely moving tale of friendship and loss. I found myself tearing up, as I read Caron Levis' narrative, and thought that Charles Santoso's artwork captured Gus's changing emotions quite well. A lovely book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for a gentle narrative addressing the loss of a loved one.
Addendum: Readers might want to read the various articles that appeared, over the years, in The New York Times, concerning Gus:
Gus, the Lonely Polar Bear
Farewell to Gus, Whose Issues Made Him a Star
April 12, 2016
I'm currently doing a reference search to help a patron find books to explain a terminal cancer diagnosis to her child, so I'm looking through a lot of picture books on bereavement, death, and dying.
This one is the best I've seen yet. The illustrations are beautiful, striking and charming, guaranteed to make you sympathetic to the story. The words themselves are simple, and tell a beautiful story. I cried real tears, twice, while reading it.
But the best part is that this book takes the reader through the whole "process," from normal happy life to the discovery of a diagnosis, the "growling days, and laughing days, and days that mixed them up," death, and learning to move forward. It doesn't skip any of it, and doesn't shy away from what's really happening. The characters (both of them, including the one who is dying) have time to process their emotions, feel full of hope and sorrow, and say goodbye. For someone who wants a book that reflects their experience, this is beautiful, heartbreaking, uplifting, and perfect.
Sidenote: this book says "dead/dying," rather than "pass away," or "move on to a better place," or just "not here anymore." It's not religious with the afterlife but instead conveys the feeling the survivor gets, remembering their loved one, feeling that the person is "still here." It's therefore appropriate for every tradition and every larger conversation within families of how they want to handle the topic.
Highly recommend. Truly excellent.
This one is the best I've seen yet. The illustrations are beautiful, striking and charming, guaranteed to make you sympathetic to the story. The words themselves are simple, and tell a beautiful story. I cried real tears, twice, while reading it.
But the best part is that this book takes the reader through the whole "process," from normal happy life to the discovery of a diagnosis, the "growling days, and laughing days, and days that mixed them up," death, and learning to move forward. It doesn't skip any of it, and doesn't shy away from what's really happening. The characters (both of them, including the one who is dying) have time to process their emotions, feel full of hope and sorrow, and say goodbye. For someone who wants a book that reflects their experience, this is beautiful, heartbreaking, uplifting, and perfect.
Sidenote: this book says "dead/dying," rather than "pass away," or "move on to a better place," or just "not here anymore." It's not religious with the afterlife but instead conveys the feeling the survivor gets, remembering their loved one, feeling that the person is "still here." It's therefore appropriate for every tradition and every larger conversation within families of how they want to handle the topic.
Highly recommend. Truly excellent.
November 16, 2016
This fictionalized story of two polar bears who lived in New York City's Central Park Zoo is absolutely gorgeous and touching! Both the artwork and the text are a delight to read and filled with emotion. Ida and Gus are best friends. They toss the ball to one another, splash each other, and chase and play. Ida is always right there by his side. Always. Until one day, Ida gets very sick and the zookeeper explains to Gus that she is going to die. And then their relationship slows down, softens and deepens. Gus helps Ida and they talk about what might be coming next. This is a lovely story to read to discuss grief with a child and also a wonderful story of friendship, love, and unselfish concern for another.
I love the language..."Together they stomped and snarled. Their growls turned into howls so loud they filled up the zoo, rising higher than skyscrapers, scaring pigeons, surging toward stars."
"Two friends folded into one shadow and slumped quietly on the rocks. Two bear noses sniffled, two bear breaths panted, two bear hearts echoed each other's beat."
Absolutely a must read!
I love the language..."Together they stomped and snarled. Their growls turned into howls so loud they filled up the zoo, rising higher than skyscrapers, scaring pigeons, surging toward stars."
"Two friends folded into one shadow and slumped quietly on the rocks. Two bear noses sniffled, two bear breaths panted, two bear hearts echoed each other's beat."
Absolutely a must read!
August 24, 2016
There is a lot of five- and four-stars review, but not so much is heard from those who didn't like the book. Well, I didn't like it. It says that it's based on a real story of two polar bears in a zoo and was inspired by the great sadness of zoo visitors following the death of one of them, Ida. I guess, the author tryed to turn it around and make a book for children of how to cope with a loss of a loved one. First of all, no matter how touching the story is for adults, I don't think it works that way for children, especially grieving children. Second, for a book about real bears, it's anthropocentric to the extreme. Third, I generally don't like books that try to sell readers false hopes, and Ida, Always does exactly that; instead of providing a way to settle and move on it gives some groundless, ephemeral hopes.
July 2, 2017
Oh, my heart, this book! I couldn't even finish because the tears were flowing. It's beautiful in illustration, story, and sentiment. I knew exactly who I wanted to buy it for halfway through (a cousin who is a hospice nurse). Having picture books that are sensitive to grief and loss, but also handle it in a way that the story is meaningful and engaging are important, and this book does that.
Pair with another new one this year, Always Remember.
Pair with another new one this year, Always Remember.
February 28, 2023
Cybils finalist for best fiction picture book.
March 19, 2022
Children's picture book on friendship and death. This is sad enough to be a Newbery winner. The font was a little annoying but readable. The text was good and there was quite a bit of it, but not too much. The art was a mixture of more backgrounds and more up and close on the bears. The whole thing was just beautiful.
March 21, 2016
Polar bears Gus and Ida are the best of friends and spend their days side by side at the zoo listening to the sounds of the city around them. Gus soon learns that Ida is sick; he must learn to say goodbye.
What a tearjerker! These two friends are so sweet, I definitely had tears in my eyes by story's end. The text is soft and slow and does a great job of covering the grieving process and the acceptance of death. Put this on the shelf alongside Mo Willems' City Dog, Country Frog.
Digital illustrations. Author's note included. I want to say this is a read aloud, but I wouldn't trust myself not to cry if I did share it with a group. PreK-2.
What a tearjerker! These two friends are so sweet, I definitely had tears in my eyes by story's end. The text is soft and slow and does a great job of covering the grieving process and the acceptance of death. Put this on the shelf alongside Mo Willems' City Dog, Country Frog.
Digital illustrations. Author's note included. I want to say this is a read aloud, but I wouldn't trust myself not to cry if I did share it with a group. PreK-2.
July 5, 2017
A soulful picture book that is loosely inspired by the true story of two polar bears, Gus and Ida, who lived at the Central Park Zoo. The polar bears are inseparable and when Ida gets sick and dies, Gus must learn to cope. This is a heartbreaking picture book about loss and healing that will be hard to read dry-eyed.
February 4, 2017
I hugged this book when I finished it, but I couldn't speak for a little while. It is sad, but sweet - a lovely story about death and dying, but it also tells the story of two friends and the wonderful memories they made.
October 8, 2017
Oof, my heart. This is beautiful. The story, the artwork, the writing. While it was hard reading this a week after my dog died, it helped. I know like Ida, she's with me always. I want this book for my own personal collection. Great for helping any child deal with death.
April 24, 2016
A book to cry with, a pair to care about.
The way the illustrations incorporate the city into the zoo and Gus and Ida's life is superb and stunning.
The way the illustrations incorporate the city into the zoo and Gus and Ida's life is superb and stunning.
August 3, 2016
I love the honest message of hope this story brings to the struggle of loss and grief.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 747 reviews