The Adventures of Beekle, The Unimaginary Friend

The Adventures of Beekle, The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat is a beautiful story of friendship, courage and patience. The book begins with a scene of a faraway land where imaginary friends are created. All of the characters live and play there waiting to be imagined by a real child. Once they become imagined by a real child, they get whisked away. One character never gets chosen and waits and waits. He finally decides to find the friend himself by sailing to the real world. He is scared in the big city and everything seems very strange, until he meets his friend Alice. Once he meets Alice, he is given the beloved name Beekle.

This heart warming story of friendship combined with the unique and beautiful illustrations makes this a book that should be in every child’s library. The book reminds me of what it is like to be a child and imagine the unimaginable. There are many valuable lessons that a child can take from this story, The Adventures of Beekle, The Unimaginary Friend. Beekle waited and waited and was very patient in waiting for a friend to find him but the friend never came. Beekle was so determined to find his friend that he endured many scary things in his journey to the real world. This act of patience and courage can teach a child that we can’t always wait for a friend to come to us, we must sometimes go out and find that friend. Finding a friend can also be a courageous move as well. Also, finding a true and best friend isn’t easy. It takes time and patience. When Beekle and Alice did find each other, they were able to do the unimaginable together.

This book is ideal for repeated readings. I have read this book about five times already to my own children and each time we discover something new, such as the big whale and his baby in the ocean, Beekle’s route in the playground and the awkward but wonderful moments that Beekle and Alice share. Ask your child questions and model language when reading this story. Relate the book to your own experiences with friendship and ask your child to share their own personal thoughts regarding a friend or friendship. Discussing the interaction between Alice and Beekle can lead to a thoughtful conversation about the dynamics of meeting someone for the first time.

The Adventures of Beekle
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