SUCCESS OF COMPANION BOOKS: A starred review raved that This Way, Charlie, an Indie Next pick and Junior Library Guild selection, ¿excels at crafting emotional, but never saccharine, tales of friendship,¿ while Ida, Always was called ¿an example of children¿s books at their best¿ by the New York Times and earned many accolades, including three starred reviews, a Christopher Award, and an Indie Next pick.EMOTIONAL THEMES: Depicts disability in an honest, sensitive way while also tackling separation¿a relatable topic for anyone dealing with divorce, military deployments, immigration, work travel, pandemic-related separations, and the geographic spread of families.BASED ON A TRUE STORY: Inspired by two real storks who, for 16 years, spent winter more than 5,000 miles apart and reunited every spring in Croatia.POIGNANT AUTHOR¿S NOTE: Levis explains how the forced isolation caused by the pandemic shaped her writing, yet Malena and Klepetan¿s story also reminds us of the ways people have managed to create a sense of togetherness despite distances.STUNNING ARTWORK: Expressive illustrations from award-winning artist Charles Santoso add extra emotional depth.