Ida, Always

Description: Based on the real-life Gus and Ida of New York's Central Park Zoo, this is the story of a polar bear who grieves over the loss of his companion.

Brief description: Charles Santoso loves drawing little things in his little journal. He gathers inspiration from his childhood memories and curiosities he discovers in his everyday travels. He has illustrated several picture books, including The Snurtch, I Don't Like Koala, Finding Muchness, and Ida, Always. Charles also works as a visual development artist, creating illustrations for feature film projects. He lives and works in Singapore. You can visit him at CharlesSantoso.com.

Review Quotes: "I am in awe of this wise, endearing, tender and beautiful--so very beautiful--book, which is sure to become a classic of children's literature.... The words and the pictures meld perfectly to explore the emotional journey of love and loss, breaking your heart and then beginning to mend it."--Judith Viorst, author of the bestselling Alexander books and The Tenth Good Thing About Barney