Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2014 PreS-Gr 2—How long would you wait and how far a journey would you make to find your truest friend? Born on an island for imaginary friends, Beekle waits to be "imagined by a real child." He waits and he waits, but his turn never comes. Filled with impetuous courage, Beekle does the unimaginable and heads out across deep waters until he reaches the real world. He finds that life there is so harried that no one notices him. Eventually, as he waits at the top of a star-leafed tree, a small girl with a friendly face calls out to him with a picture in her hand. They learn to be friends, share adventures and snacks, joke, "and together they did the unimaginable." Santat's attention to detail in the mixed-media illustrations shares a child's eye for laughter and movement on full-bleed spreads with strategically placed text. Gazes of wonderment, broad smiles, and changes in perspective ensure an easy transition from page to page. Beekle's round white visage and taped orange paper crown are immediately identifiable in each scene, a sharp contrast to his surroundings against variations of dark neutrals on a city street or the brightly colored dragons of a child's imagination. Like Beekle's new friend, there's something here that feels just right as an "unimaginary" friendship creates a joyous, recognizable bond. A terrific addition to any library.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 06/01/2014 On “an island far away,” an imaginary friend-a pint-sized, marshmallowy guy sporting a golden crown-longs for the day when a child will “imagine” him, and thus choose and name him. As the days pass and he remains unchosen, the intrepid fellow goes in search of his intended child, leaving his imaginary home for the real world, “a strange place. No kids were eating cake. No one stopped to hear the music. And everyone needed naptime.” Even the seemingly rich pickings of a playground yield no result, until finally a girl named Alice chooses him; once she dubs him “Beekle” a bond is formed, and the two go on to have adventures, both real and imaginary, together. Pithy writing combines with the rich, slightly stylized illustrations (in pencil, crayon, watercolor, ink, and Photoshop on matte pages) to give an elegant edge to the storytelling. Pudgy white Beekle is a lovable toylike figure (kids will particularly giggle at his “rear” view, in which butt cheeks are subtly indicated), and the visual contrasts between the bright-hued, multi-patterned imaginary world and the darker, drabber real world are striking (especially lovely is the rainbow-scaled sea serpent he encounters). This tale could enhance multiple educational or storytime themes-friendship, imagination, journeys-and could be used to spark some imaginative writing or art activities; it might also inspire the development of some new imaginary friends. JH - Copyright 2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.