Jessica [Hardcover]

Kevin Henkes (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Much to her parents' chagrin, 5-year-old Ruthie has a devoted invisible friend named Jessica. When Ruthie accidentally spills juice, Jessica gladly takes the blame. When Ruthie's parents plan to hire a baby sitter and go to a movie, Jessica gets a tummy ache and needs them to stay home. "There is no Jessica," her parents keep insisting. "But Ruthie knew there was," the author keeps repeating. Kevin Henkes's Popsicle-colored watercolors and detailed pen-and-ink drawings invite us into Ruthie and Jessica's fantasy world. Through his handwritten cartoon dialogue, we are privy to their tender conversations and confidences. When it's time to start kindergarten, Ruthie's father suggests that Jessica stay home. But of course Ruthie brings Jessica anyway. On that fateful day we discover what Ruthie knew all along--there really is a Jessica! Children who believe in imaginary playmates will find their soul mate in Ruthie. And parents who fret over the isolation of an absorbing imaginary life will find comfort in the story's happy ending. All families will appreciate the twists of fate that allow a child's fantasy world to joyfully overlap into the real one. School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Horn Book Fanfare Honor List, IRA/CBC Children's Choice, American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. (Ages 3 and older) --Gail Hudson

From Publishers Weekly

Jessica is the imaginary friend of a girl named Ruthie, whose parents constantly remind her, "There is no Jessica." But Ruthie knows better, and Jessica is included in every aspect of the girl's play. Then Ruthie goes to kindergarten and, despite her parents wishes to the contrary, takes Jessica with her. It's a confusing day, and just as Ruthie's woes are about to be desperately compounded (the children have to choose real partners), a classmate introduces herself as "Jessica." She becomes as close a friend to Ruthie as her imaginary namesake. The story is characteristically on target in its reflections of the inventive ways in which children play; Henkes never falters as he outlines the logic and reasoning behind Ruthie's affection for her invisible playmate. But the denouement seems hasty, especially given all the care that has led up to it. Nevertheless, Henkes's scenes of Ruthie and her two Jessicas are visions of fun (although his people do have a bit of Karen Gundersheimer and Maurice Sendak to their marching stances), and despite the ending, readers will find plenty of pleasure within these pages. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Baby-Preschool
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (March 20, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068807829X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688078294
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #855,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Daughter's Favorite Book, December 8, 1999

By	"shannontherese" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jessica (Hardcover)

An elementary school teacher gave me this book at my baby shower. She told me that her students loved "Jessica," and that my daughter would, too. Time has proven her correct. Recently, my daughter, who is now two and a half years old, asked that I read her the book. "Jessica" has quickly become her favorite book. The story is about five-year-old Ruthie. Ruthie doesn't have a brother, a sister, a cat, or a dog but she has an imaginary friend, Jessica, "who is even better." Although Ruthie's parents tell her that "There is no Jessica," Ruthie knows that there is. The book describes all of the activities that Ruthie and Jessica do together and concludes with Ruthie's discovery of a "real" Jessica when Ruthie begins kindergarten. My daughter loves this book and can recite it word for word. Children quickly become familiar with the story because key words and phrases are repeated throughout the book. More importantly, the book talks about activities and fears that all young children have and accurately depicts a child's hesitation to voice his or her fears. For example, when Ruthie's parents want to go to a movie, "Jessica," not Ruthie, gets a stomach ache and wants them to stay home. This is a terrific book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So realistic!, September 14, 2004

By	Jessica Mulvaney "Children's Literature can c... (Ashland, KY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Jessica (Paperback)

This book hits home as a Kindergarten teacher. The words are so true to life and it can really relate to a child who may be going through the same things that Rutie is going through. I love this book!

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Making friends is easier than it looks!, December 1, 1999

By	Laura Seeley (Quincy, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jessica (Paperback)

I just read this book a few minutes ago. it's about a little girl named Ruthie who has an imaginary friend named Jessica. They do everything together! From reading books, to playing with blocks. They are the best of friends. Ruthie's parents try to get her to believe that Jessica isn't real, but Ruthie won't listen to them. On the first day of kindergarden, Jessica goes along with Ruthie. But, Ruthie makes a new friend, whose name also happens to be Jessica and they become really good friends. I think that if you know of a child who has an imaginary friend, then they should deffinately read this book, or you could read it to them!