About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is facing the terminal illness or death of a loved one, or when they are asking deep questions about what happens when someone we love is no longer 'here.' This is a gentle, secular exploration of the transition from presence to memory, centered on Gus and Ida, two real-life polar bears who lived at the Central Park Zoo. Through the bears' daily routines and Ida's eventual illness, the story validates the messy reality of grief, including anger and the 'big sad.' It provides a comforting framework for children aged 4 to 8, illustrating that while a person may be gone, they are 'always' with us through the love and memories we share. Parents will appreciate the honest but age-appropriate way it handles the physical decline and eventual passing of a friend.
