A 2015 Caldecott
winner
Author-illustrator Dan Santat brings us this story about
a far-away island where imaginary friends are born and reside, waiting for a real
child to pick them. Beekle is one such imaginary friend. But soon he is left alone in the island for
he is the only one who has not been picked.
Disappointed but determined, Beekle sets out on a journey to
the real world. He must find a real
child who will be his friend!
Beekle finds the world of real people unfamiliar and strange until he sees other imaginary friends like himself. But where is his friend?
Beekle climbs atop a tree. There are many real children around him. But when no real child comes to him, he feels
sad.
However, the windy autumn day brings something with it that makes
Beekle feel better. What is it and what
happens next?
I like this book for various reasons. One, this is the first time I read a
story about imaginary friends instead of children with imaginary friends. Two, the first sentence of the story really
got me hooked– “He was born on an island far away where imaginary friends
were created.” Three, the depictions of
various imaginary friends, including Beekle himself, are very likeable. And finally, the way this book ends makes me
wonder if there’ll be a sequel for readers to look forward to.
This book is appropriate for children 4+. There is a message in the story - that life is full of ups and
downs. One must never give up on one’s
dreams, but keep trying.
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