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Our Favorite Fictional Imaginary Friends
As book lovers, we have a whole host of imaginary friends. We get to know fictional characters, become involved in their lives, laugh when they laugh, cry when they cry, and think about them when we aren’t even reading about them. But even before we could read, we had imaginary friends of our own creations—imaginary kids, imaginary dogs, imaginary monkeys, stuffed animals that came to life. These imaginary pals eventually found their way back to the recesses of our minds when real friends came into our lives. But they’re still there, just hanging out should we ever need to call on them again. Check out the list of our favorite fictional imaginary friends from children’s lit.
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Fred (Imaginary Fred, by Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers)
From the author of the incredible Artemis Fowl series and the illustrator of The Day the Crayons Came Home comes this imaginative picture book. Imaginary friend Fred knows his role: He comes to Earth to keep lonely kids company until they find real flesh-and-blood friends. Then he’s whisked away by the wind until he’s needed again. But the problem is that Fred wants a forever friend of his own. So he when his current human pal, Sam—with whom he has so much in common—meets Sammi, Fred is super-bummed. Ah, but Sammi has her own imaginary friend, Frieda, so maybe there’s hope for Fred yet in this whimsical tale about finding true friends.
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Crenshaw (Crenshaw, by Katherine Applegate)
If you loved The One and Only Ivan, then Katherine Applegate’s latest, Crenshaw, should be next on your must-read list. Soon-to-be fifth-grader Jackson knows what it’s like to be hungry and homeless. After he finished first grade, he and his family moved into their minivan for a few months—that’s when his imaginary friend Crenshaw, a giant, jelly bean-eating cat, first appeared. Jackson fears his family is headed for trouble once again when Crenshaw shows up one day on a surfboard. Science-minded Jackson isn’t sure what to believe—is his friend real or just a figment of his imagination (or a side effect of how dizzy he feels from not eating)? As the cat tells the boy, “Imaginary friends don’t come of their own volition. We are invited. We stay as long as we’re needed.” Crenshaw is another stellar, thought-provoking read from this Newbery-winning author.
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Beekle (The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, by Dan Santat)
Beekle was born on a faraway island where he lived and waited night after night to be “imagined by a real child.” But for Beekle that day never came. So he does the unimaginable for an imaginary friend—he heads out on a journey to the real world to find his special friend. Snow-white Beekle, with his little orange crown, leaps off page after page of vivid illustrations. And ultimately, Beekle does find his friend in this charming and lovely story about making friends even when it seems nearly impossible.
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Jessica (Jessica, by Kevin Henkes)
“There is no Jessica,” say Ruthie’s parents in this fanciful picture book. But Ruthie knows there is. Five-year-old Ruthie and her imaginary friend do everything together—they eat together, play together, look at books together, and even get mad together. Naturally, when it’s time for Ruthie to start kindergarten, Jessica is coming too—even though Ruthie’s parents think it might be a good idea for Jessica to stay home, as they’re hoping their daughter will find a real friend at school. Grownups are in for a surprise in this sweet read with colorful watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations.
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Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson)
Bill Watterson’s popular comic strip follows Calvin, a rambunctious and mischievous six-year-old boy, and his constant companion Hobbes, a stuffed tiger—at least he appears as a plush animal to the grownups, but to Calvin, Hobbes is very much alive. The pair explore, go sledding, play Calvinball, find various uses for cardboard boxes, and hold meetings for their club, G.R.O.S.S. (Get Rid Of Slimy GirlS)—they’re the only two members. Of course, Hobbes occasionally has to deal with the pitfalls of being thought of as a stuffed tiger by the adults—having to go through the washing machine, for example. But he still manages to hang onto his wise nature and sardonic wit.
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The Wild Things (Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak)
Max is so frustrated about being sent to his room without any dinner that he imagines a forest growing in his bedroom, from which he is able to sail away to the land of the Wild Things. The monstrous creatures make Max their king, and the wild rumpus begins in this classic children’s book from Maurice Sendak. But when it’s time for Max to leave, the Wild Things cry, “Oh please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!” But Max knows he must return home to the comfort of his room, where he finds his dinner waiting for him. And it’s still hot.
Who is your favorite fictional imaginary friend?