I have long been fascinated by imaginary friends. I've been told I had one as a child, but I don't recall any details. My daughter had two imaginary friends, one she called Adeladin, and the other was Candy Pink and Red. One day I realized she hadn't mentioned them in a while so I asked about them only to have her inform me that they had moved to California.
IMAGINARY by Lee Bacon is told from the POV of the imaginary friend making it a unique kind of tale. Shovel is a purple ball of fuzz with a talent for juggling. He met his boy Zach while Zach was in the backyard digging a hole. It was a project intended to create a hole to the other side of the earth. It wasn't a surprise when the project was not a total success.
As the story picks up, Zach is starting middle school when imaginary friends should be long gone, but Shovel has reappeared. He believes Zach needs his help. Zach's father recently died and he is having a difficult time adjusting. Shovel hopes to offer some consolation.
Middle school is not just the end of imaginary friends, but also sometimes the end of childhood friendships. Zach is discovering that his long time friend Ryan has moved on to a couple of new friends and their focus is sports. Zach isn't particularly interested in sports, and it seems he isn't wearing the right clothes or hairstyle for middle school either. This results in Ryan and his new buddies poking fun at Zach at just the time he needs support.
Author Lee Bacon and illustrator Katy Wu take readers on a journey led by an unusual narrator with only the best intentions for his old buddy Zach. IMAGINARY is perfect for ages 8-13 and anyone looking to remember the power of childhood.
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