aharman13's review against another edition
5.0
This is a really great book for explaining death to children, about how it is sad but you can remember all of the fun times and love will always be there.
froydis's review against another edition
5.0
This is a really beautiful book, both pictorially and content wise. A gentle and poignant story of two friends, the process of dying, and how the survivor carries on. An excellent book for children going through a loss, but also a good one just to introduce the concept of death. There's nothing scary here, just a tender tale of two friends. Highly Recommended!
shighley's review against another edition
3.0
After reading reviews and recommendations for this, I was prepared to cry, but I didn't. I found it too sappy. I think it could have been done without the polar bears talking. Knowing it was based on a true story makes it meaningful, but it just didn't work for me.
dawnoftheread's review against another edition
5.0
Awww. I've read a lot of good picture books about death, but this might be the best I've read about dying.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
5.0
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.
ourreadaloudfamily's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
ruthailuj's review against another edition
5.0
Tears.
I have never been to the zoo, so I never met Ida or Gus but I am sad for them anyway.
I have never been to the zoo, so I never met Ida or Gus but I am sad for them anyway.
ashleyaewert's review against another edition
5.0
Fictional story based on true events. Two polar bears, Gus and Ida have an inseparable friendship. Both love at the New York zoo. Ida falls ill and eventually passes away but not before her and Gus share many moments together that Gus goes on to remember always. Tear jerker.
bluenicorn's review against another edition
4.0
THANKS ALOT, BOOK- YOU ALMOST MADE ME CRY AT THE CIRCULATION DESK.
This is an important book about dying... especially if a child has someone in their life slowly dying, or dealing with a terminal disease, this would be a really good book for them to be exposed to. I don't know how much kids would be into this as a normal picture book read aloud; but it's good to know you could find this at the library if you needed it.
This is an important book about dying... especially if a child has someone in their life slowly dying, or dealing with a terminal disease, this would be a really good book for them to be exposed to. I don't know how much kids would be into this as a normal picture book read aloud; but it's good to know you could find this at the library if you needed it.
madelinefmcguire's review against another edition
5.0
A picture book about two polar bears who are best friends who are dealing with the feelings about one of them dying.