Iver & Ellsworth

author: Casey W. Robinson

illustrator: Melissa Larson

Hardcover picture book

40 pages

11 x 9 inches

$17.99

ISBN: 978-0-9990249-1-1

Release date: May 22, 2018

About the Book

From a factory rooftop, Iver and his good friend Ellsworth (a rooftop bear) are content to watch the busy world below. 

“Everyone’s going somewhere,” Iver says. “We can see the whole world from up here. That’s enough somewhere for me.” 

But after Iver retires, the friends must venture out in search of a new somewhere. Of course, the very best views are those you share with an old pal.

 Listen to author Casey W. Robinson and publisher Rob Broder talk about Iver & Ellsworth on The Children’s Book Podcast.

About the Author/Illustrator

Casey W. Robinson grew up in Maine and now lives with her family in Massachusetts. She occasionally drives past a rooftop bear in the nearby city of Worcester. She writes stories for children, but they aren’t always about children. Iver & Ellsworth is her first picture book. Visit her website: CaseyWRobinson.com.

Melissa Larson attended Azusa Pacific University for a BFA in art and a minor in writing. Right now she is likely off to a new somewhere (she can’t sit on the same rooftop very long). She prefers peanut butter and jelly on her whole wheat. This is her first picture book. Visit her website: MelissaLeannLarson.com.

Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews, February 18, 2018:

This gentle story about friendship, devotion, and commitment features an unlikely pair: an elderly man and an inanimate (or is it?), inarticulate inflatable polar bear that adorns the rooftop of the factory where the man works.

Every day, white, gray-haired Iver takes his lunch on the roof, where he sits with this bear, dubbed Ellsworth. Iver takes it upon himself to care for Ellsworth, clearing away dead leaves, snow, or rain streaks, depending on the season, and making sure his ropes are fastened. One day, Iver is very slow going about his business, and he tells Ellsworth he is about to retire. The following spread is an exemplar of restraint with few words (" ‘I'm going to miss you,' he says"); this is succeeded by a few spreads with no words, showing only in pictures the characters' stories in parallel: Iver eating alone in a diner and going to the movies by himself; Ellsworth loosed from his rooftop ropes, blowing across the city. The happy ending resolves neatly when Ellsworth lands—where else?—on the roof of Iver's home.

Larson's pencil-and-watercolor illustrations fit the tone, portraying a riverside industrial city with rolling hills beyond in suitably subtle grays, browns, and greens. Bare trees, a white background to the images, and the muted colors suggest this takes place in winter; companionship in the winter of life is a cozy theme, portrayed comfortingly here.

From Midwest Book Review, February 2018:

From a factory rooftop, Iver and his good friend Ellsworth (a rooftop bear) are content to watch the busy world below. "Everyone's going somewhere," Iver says. "We can see the whole world from up here. That's enough somewhere for me." But after Iver retires, the friends must venture out in search of a new somewhere. Of course, the very best views are those you share with an old pal.

Imaginatively written by Casey W. Robinson and charmingly illustrated with the artistry of Melissa Larson, "Iver and Ellsworth" is an original and unfailingly entertaining picture book that will prove of very special interest for children ages 5 to 7, as well as an enduringly popular addition to family, preschool, elementary school, and community library collections.

From Booklist, March 2018

Each morning, Iver drives into the city, where he works as the caretaker of a factory building. At lunchtime, the white-haired man climbs the fire escape to the rooftop and greets Ellsworth, a large, white, friendly-looking inflatable bear, tethered by ropes. Iver sits, eats his lunch, and talks to Ellsworth while they look out over “the whole world.” One day, Iver confides that he’s retiring and that he’ll miss the amiable bear. In wordless panels on the next few pages, Ellsworth’s tethers soon break, and he floats over the city, eventually landing on the roof of his elderly friend’s home. Iver welcomes him, sitting beside him while Ellsworth’s head bobs and his hands wave. It’s a quiet ending that glows with happiness. Words and pictures come together seamlessly, each enhancing the read-aloud experience. Robinson’s spare, understated text uses repeated phrases that bind the story together gracefully. Capturing the feeling behind the words, Larson’s illustrations feature well-structured pencil drawings with warm-toned watercolor washes. This comforting picture book is more than the sum of its parts.— Carolyn Phelan

From BookPage, June 2018

In this charming double debut by author Casey W. Robinson and illustrator Melissa Larson, an older factory worker named Iver climbs to the roof during his lunch hour. While up there, he eats next to a giant inflatable bear named Ellsworth. Together they gaze out over a hilly northern landscape, and Iver feels content to be exactly where he is.“Everyone’s going somewhere,” Iver reflects. “We can see the whole world from up here. That’s enough somewhere for me.”Before he heads back to work, Iver cares for Ellsworth—wiping away streaks of rain, shaking snow from his shoulders, shining his paws. In the fall, Iver “plucks the crunchy leaves that stick to Ellsworth’s tummy.” And, of course, he makes sure the ropes that hold the inflatable bear steady are secure.Then comes Iver’s retirement. Without Iver there to check on the bear, the ropes get loose and Ellsworth flies up into the air and across the town until he lands on the roof of Iver’s small house.Young readers may wonder if this is a coincidence or if the bear just knows where he belongs. Ellsworth grins as he and his old friend look out onto their new somewhere together. Larson’s soft pencil and watercolor illustrations complement Robinson’s gentle text. With its heartfelt, endearing characters and unusual setting, Iver & Ellsworth is sure to be a bedtime favorite. - Deborah Hopkinson