Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Scholastic (2015), Edition: Illustrated, 40 pages
Description
An imaginary friend waits a long time to be imagined by a child and given a special name, and finally does the unimaginable--he sets out on a quest to find his perfect match in the real world.
User reviews
LibraryThing member nbmars
Beekle is a white blobby creature with a crown, who lives on an island with other creatures where imaginary friends were created:
“Here, they lived and played, each eagerly waiting to be imagined by a real child.”
Beekle waits and waits, but his turn never comes. So he decides to take matters
“…after a little while they realized they were perfect together.”
They started to share everything together, “and together they did the unimaginable.”
Evaluation: The observations about “the real world” are a little heavy-handed (e.g., “No kids were eating cake. No one stopped to hear the music.”), and the story is kind of boring, at least to this adult. But kids in the target group of ages 3–6 seem to love it. The artwork (by the author who is also the illustrator) is especially a source of delight for kids.
“Here, they lived and played, each eagerly waiting to be imagined by a real child.”
Beekle waits and waits, but his turn never comes. So he decides to take matters
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into his own hands. He leaves the island and heads for the real world. After a number of adventures, he finally is recognized by a small girl who names him Beekle:“…after a little while they realized they were perfect together.”
They started to share everything together, “and together they did the unimaginable.”
Evaluation: The observations about “the real world” are a little heavy-handed (e.g., “No kids were eating cake. No one stopped to hear the music.”), and the story is kind of boring, at least to this adult. But kids in the target group of ages 3–6 seem to love it. The artwork (by the author who is also the illustrator) is especially a source of delight for kids.
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LibraryThing member lauraleerose
This is a very cute book about friendship. It begins with an imaginary friend who is waiting for his friend to imagine him up, only the friend never does. So the imaginary friend, Beekle, sets out on an adventure to find his friend. He is amazed at the human world, and searches for a long time to
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find his friend. Eventually he finds her and they are instant friends, going on adventures of their own together! The genre is folk tale fiction. Show Less
LibraryThing member InstantLaila
This book was really sweet! The artwork is vibrant and fun, very relatable for young kids. I never had an imaginary friend as a child, but I know many kids who do have have. I love how ambitious Beekle is. Instead of waiting around to be chosen, he takes matters into his own hands and finds his
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friend whom he knows is out there somewhere! I would definitely seek out more works from this author/ illustrator. Show Less
LibraryThing member avanders
Absolutely wonderful story about finding a new friend.
LibraryThing member lyssjj
I love everything about this book. The illustrations and story are so sweet. Would highly recommend to an imagination of any age.
LibraryThing member melodyreads
Caldecott Winner 2015
Beautiful illustrations, lovely story
Beautiful illustrations, lovely story
LibraryThing member WindyB
This book has such a great story and the pictures are phenomenal. You start the story on what I'm calling Imagination Island, where all imaginary friends wait. Beekle gets tired of waiting and sets off to find his friend. When they meet, they know they are supposed to be friends. Alice names him
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and Beekle helps her to not feel lonely and give her courage to make new friends. Show Less
LibraryThing member LFerda
This is a cute book with fun illustrations. I'm not sure I really understood the plot or overarching theme of the book, though.
It would be fun to read this out loud to students and talk about friendship.
It would be fun to read this out loud to students and talk about friendship.
LibraryThing member MaowangVater
“He was born on an island far away where imaginary friends were created.” The as yet unnamed he who will become Beekle is short, white, plump and cute; he belongs to the meme of the Adipose of Doctor Who, an upright and whiskerless Shmoo, a bipedal version of Adam Rex's Boov, or Max in his
Using wit, word, and mixed media (“pencil, crayon, watercolor, ink, and Adobe Photoshop”) Santat and his publishers have created a book bursting with color and good humor that extends to the book’s endpapers, cover, and dust jacket.
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white wolf suit from Where the Wild Things Are. When he fails to be adopted by a child he assertively takes charge, and in a voyage that that alludes to and reverses Max’s, sets sail to the real world. At first he finds it drab place populated with bored, drowsy adults, until he recognizes a fellow immigrant and follows the creature to a playground filled with children and their imaginary friends. Yet, still he cannot find a particular friend for himself. So he climbs a tree and waits until he’s discovered and named by Alice. After a two page spread where the go from a shy, awkward meeting to complete bonding, they go on to play and draw together until they are joined by other friends, both human and imaginary, and all together set out on a grand voyage. Using wit, word, and mixed media (“pencil, crayon, watercolor, ink, and Adobe Photoshop”) Santat and his publishers have created a book bursting with color and good humor that extends to the book’s endpapers, cover, and dust jacket.
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LibraryThing member ramfam5
I gave this book 4 stars just for the rich illustrations alone. The story is cut about an imaginary friend that goes off to a big city to find a real child to be friends with. I could use this book as a mentor sentences book for a grammar lesson. I think my class would love it.
LibraryThing member laineyh
Beekle has been one of the most creative and colorful books that I have read this term. Beekle is a book about a world beyond ours where imaginary friends live and it describes the journey of Beekle, one of the imaginary friends that decide to leave this world in search of a true friend. Beekle
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finds himself arriving in a city that looks similar to NYC and begins to uncover the city and younger population until he finally finds his perfect match. The storyline that Santat creates is wonderful because it offers a perspective different than most and tells the story from the imaginary friend’s point of view. Not only is the story line creative, it also fully engages the reader and when the reader is finished, they feel like they have stepped into the world Santat has created. Not only is the story line engaging and easy to connect to for many youth, but the illustrations also capture the mood of the character and story. Santat does am amazing job of using dark colors to highlight the brighter, more vibrant colors on each page. His books also have a realistic but cartoonish feel which make them extremely engaging because they often look like a more fun version of reality. I think that this would be a great book to have in the classroom, not just for strictly enjoyment reading, but could be used in some sort of lesson. I picture asking my classroom to read the story and then draw their own imaginary friend/s. Show Less
LibraryThing member SRThompson
This is a fabulous tale about a daring imaginary friend who sets out to find himself a human friend. The tables have turned in this cute book about friendship.
LibraryThing member pussreboots
Hello! I am Beekle. I am your imaginary friend.
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat is a picture book about a marshmallow shaped imaginary creature who wants nothing more than to be paired with a child.
But poor Beekle sits and sits waiting for someone to imagine him.
Simple.
He takes matters in his own hands. If a child won't imagine him, then he will go introduce himself to potential children.
It's a good message to encourage children to try things out themselves, rather than always waiting things to be done for them.
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat is a picture book about a marshmallow shaped imaginary creature who wants nothing more than to be paired with a child.
But poor Beekle sits and sits waiting for someone to imagine him.
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Everyone else seems to find a home and he's still there, waiting. What's an unimaginary friend to do?Simple.
He takes matters in his own hands. If a child won't imagine him, then he will go introduce himself to potential children.
It's a good message to encourage children to try things out themselves, rather than always waiting things to be done for them.
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LibraryThing member KaylaAnn715
This is the story of Beekle, an imaginary friend who lives in the imaginary world waiting for his friend to think him up and create him so that he can go and be with him. He waits and he waits, but his friend never imagines him. So he does the unthinkable… he travels to the real world to find his
Genre: Fantasy
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friend!! He looks, but he can not find his friend! But, instead he finds Alice… and Alice and him become INSTANT friends!! They go on many adventures together, and sure enough, Beekle feels very loved. Genre: Fantasy
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LibraryThing member sommerkirk
This modern fantasy is about an unimaginary friend who hasn't been imagined yet, so he can't leave the place where all of the imaginary friends leave. Once everyone is gone, he decides to go on a journey and find his friend for himself. The unimaginary friend searches and searches and almost loses
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total hope, however eventually after searching he finally finds her, and he is names Beekle. This heartwarming tale ends with them being imaginary friends forever. Show Less
LibraryThing member mbabst
This book was such an interesting read because I haven't read a book that contained an imaginary friend. This book will allow the readers to experience what it may be like to feel alone in the world. It will teach the readers that no one person is ever truly alone in this world. This picture book
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is a heartwarming story that will enchant the readers. I would read this book to a group of kindergarten to first grade students because I feel as though they would understand the concept of imaginary friends. They would be able to tell the teacher an imaginary friend story. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Finally had the opportunity to read this delightful, touching book.
LibraryThing member burtmiller
A- I really like the theme of this book. I had an imaginary friend had a child and I remember as a child thinking I could do anything and everything with my imaginary friend. This book captures that essence and children and adults who read it will really like that.
LibraryThing member rarewren
What does an imaginary friend do before it is imagined? The Adventures of Beekle follows the hero of the title on a quest of discovery and being discovered. A stout marshmallowy creature wearing a paper crown (that kind of reminds me of Max's in Where the Wild Things Are), Beekle is born anonymous
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on the island where imaginary friends are born. Show Less
LibraryThing member flackm
This is such a great story and I love the illustrations! Beekle comes from a place far away where imaginary friends are born. He waits and waits, but no friend imagines him. Beekle decides to set out on his own and meets his perfect match. She gives him a name and he helps her be more social.
LibraryThing member flackm
This is such a great story and I love the illustrations! Beekle comes from a place far away where imaginary friends are born. He waits and waits, but no friend imagines him. Beekle decides to set out on his own and meets his perfect match. She gives him a name and he helps her be more social.
LibraryThing member StoutHearted
Beautifully illustrated tale about an imaginary friend who leaves his island home for the city in order to find his one true pal, rather than wait around to be chosen. This book tells a lot with the use of color, from the drab tones of the adult urban world, to the bright, imaginative world of
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children. Show Less
LibraryThing member untitled841
Most adorable book about making friends with your imaginary friend! Loved the illustrations.
LibraryThing member mmeharvey
The Adventures of Beekle is a beautifully illustrated picture book about the importance of friendship. The artwork in the text takes center stage as Beekle embarks on an adventure in search of his unimaginary friend. A really lovely story that primary students will enjoy for it's heart-warming
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conclusion and intermediate students will love for the riveting illustrations. Show Less
LibraryThing member thornton37814
Beekle lives on an island but journeys far away in hopes of meeting his imaginary friend. He strikes up a friendship and lives happily ever after. Illustrations are quite nice and are varied.
Awards
Caldecott Medal (Medal Winner — 2015)
Monarch Award (Nominee — 2017)
Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award (Nominee — Grades K-2 — 2016)
Blue Hen Book Award (Nominee — Younger Readers — 2016)
Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award (Shortlist — 2016)
Golden Archer Award (Nominee — Primary — 2016)
Donna Norvell Oklahoma Book Award (Nominee — 2016)
NPR: Books We Love (2014)
The Best Children's Books of the Year (Five to Nine — 2015)
Notable Children's Book (2015)
Nerdy Book Award (2014)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Children's Books — 2014)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Picture Books — 2014)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014-04
Physical description
11.38 inches
ISBN
9780545880916