Imaginary Fred: Win a Harper Collins Book Bundle
If you fancy a genuinely good read this season, for gifts or for your own children, do take a look at the fabulous Imaginary Fred by Oliver Jeffers and Eoin Colfer. Also, you can win a Harper Collins UK Book Bundle.
Win a fabulous range of books, for various ages and reading abilities: Imaginary Fred The Incredible Book Eating Boy, The Midnight Gang, Three Little Monkeys and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. UK and Ireland 18+ entries only. Enter with Rafflecopter below.
When I first read Imaginary Fred I was reminded of an essay I had read, long before my children were born. Way back in 2002, in the raw, post 9/11 world, The New Yorker printed a desperately needed essay by Adam Gopnik about his daughter Olivia called Mr. Ravioli. Mr. Ravioli was Olivia’s imaginary friend who was always too busy to play. Charlie Ravioli was unreachable on phone, you had to leave him voicemail messages; he was constantly in meetings, working and generally unavailable for playdates. When Charlie Ravioli’s imaginary assistant came into existence, Gopnik rang his sister, a developmental psychologist, who told him it was time to leave New York City; his daughter’s imaginary friends represented all that is wrong with busy, metropolitan life for a child. After further investigation Gopnik concludes that Charlie Ravioli represented something essential about New York … its a great essay and you can read the summary in The New Yorker.
Oliver Jeffers and Eoin Colfer’s Imaginary Fred is the exact opposite foil to Charlie Ravioli. Imaginary Fred is a highly engaged, responsive, sensitive, deeply empathetic and genuinely caring (nearly) true-blue friend. The story is warm and inspiring, it is instructional on the nature of friendship and how it changes and evolves without being preachy or diluting the quality of the storytelling. There are good twists and turns, you are genuinely drawn to Fred.
I found this story so compelling I thought that it could be good to use with older children. I don’t regularly discuss this, but when I am not running my kids around and working on London Baby and Kids, I teach Language Arts. I read Imaginary Fred and part of the Charlie Ravioli essay to my year 6 creative writing students. I then had them create their own imaginary friend as part of a writing assignment. They were told to create the most fantastic friend, thinking through what traits they would like their friend to have. They then brainstormed adventures they could go on with their imaginary friends. Kids were dreaming of running away on the QE2, of riding around on motorbikes, swinging through the branches of rainforests and more. Imaginary Fred is more than a good story, it is quality children’s literature that will leave your children richer for the experience of having read it.
My best friend would know when I need help and when I needed to be alone.
my bst friend donna is always there for me, she has a heart of gold!
My favourite friend is Mo, we have been mates since we were ten yrs old,so 50 years on we still talk all the time
A great start to the bookcase for my new nephew 🙂
Perfect prize for me .Thank you xx
My favourite friend is someone I have known since birth, always there for me, lots in common and great company. She also happens to be my Mother!
My best friend of 26 years is called Emma. We still love catching up.
My favourite friend is Paula as she’s been an incredible support recently
My best mate emma is so easily embarrassed…knowing this I go out of my way to act like vicky pollard whenever we are out in public…she hates it
My friend loves my cats, travels with me, lunches with me, laughs with me and chews over my woes.
My favourite friend is my bestie and knows all my secrets!
My favourite friend is my partner; I know it may seem corny but its true. 🙂
My friend is kind and busy as a bee, always rushing about but would help anyone in need.
A best friend is someone who believes you are capable of anything even if you don’t and thoroughly inspires you.
My friend Denise is witty and charming and leaves a smile on my face when ever we meet.
My favourite friend is a large rabbit who is always ready for a cuddle and never moans
My real friends are my sisters where between is love, support, justice, empathy and understanding.
My imaginary friend really wants to read all these books. Please help her!
She is there for me when I need her, yet knows when to step back if I don’t, she never judges or criticizes, her company is a tonic and that’s a true friend.
books are my best and constant companions.
I have a friend
Her name is Lou
She really loves to buy shoes
She’s always there to lend an ear
A friend she is truly dear
My favourite friend is Rach who has stood by me through thick and thin
The Grinch is my favourite!
When I was younger, around 7 or 8, I had an imaginary friend called Sam. He was a magician and loved animals. Every week we’d put on a show in front of all my animal toys 🙂
My best friend is my sister!
My favourite friend never complains, and is always there for anyone. She’s never got any money because she will invariably give her last pound to someone who needs it.
My favourite friend is always there for me no matter what with a glass of wine and something to make me laugh
My best friend Louise is epic. We’ve known each other 15 years after meeting at work. Neither of us work there, or together anymore but have been through so much together - marriages, a divorce, adoption, kids, grandkids, moving houses…all sorts. She truly is the best friend ever.
MY BEST FRIEND IS MY PARTNER
My Mum is my greatest friend.
My favourite friend is lizzie - she is ace
This has made me think of my imaginary friend I had when I was little. She played with me all those days when my older brothers left me to go to school and went away when I left her at the school gates with mummy on my first day. She never had a name but I like to think she left to make friends with another little girl and spark her imagination the way she did mine. x
My best friends my daughter she the reason I work my bottom off no better relationship than mother and daughter
my favourite friend has been with me all my life, weve seen eachother through all lifes ups and downs and always find time for eachother.
My favourite friends is always up for a trip to the theatre or to see a film and shares my sense of humour.
My favourite friend lives far away and I miss seeing her regularly but I love spending time with her
My favourite friend is my husband - we have been through a lot together over the past 20 years and he is still the first person I want to speak to when anything happens, good or bad
My imaginary friend when I was little was called Adam. Adam was quite naughty and got me into a lot of trouble sometimes!
my friend is a right drama queen she could write a whole book about a spider on her pillow lol
My best friends are my sisters
My best friend makes me laugh so much and when we spend time together we always have so much fun making crazy memories
i made a new friend a year ago, and we have have become very close over the year x
I have known my closest friend for 30 years and has always been there for me and we have lots of fond memories
My friend Tracy is my rock been there for me alot,
My favourite friend is my husband, we’ve been the best of friends for 13yrs now! Wouldn’t be without him.
my favourite friend is my best mate who is always there for me
My best friend is a very very old school friend. Even though we don’t see each other much, that friendship never goes
My best friend is my husband - we can always rely on each other whatever life throws at us!
I am lucky because I get to live with my best friend, Rob. He makes me smile every day!
Love all my friends especially my mum x
My best friend is a unique bundle of terrified introvert and outrageous extrovert with the biggest heart of anyone I know.
my favourite friend is completely genuine
great to know hell to live with
I see my favourite friend most days as her son is in my daughters class. We regularly go for coffee and have so much fun! She is the best!
My favourite and best friend is my little girl she always makes me feel happy with her funny little sayings and energy.
my mom is my best friend, she is always 100% honest and is so wise.
My best friend is my 68 year old teddy bear Ruth. She has shared all my ups and downs, my worries, my achievements. Very much my confidante when nobody else would do.
My friend is always with me when I need her.
My best friend is my sister. Even if we argue a sisters love will make sure everythings ok.
Everything i want in a friend - same sense of humour, totally bonkers and always up for a laugh and an adventure.
Great blog ! Have entered competition would love to win some books thanks for chance ! Xx
My best friend is my dad he’s one in a million. He has been such a great help and support since restarting chemotherapy treatment I couldn’t ask for anything else in a friend and dad.
My favourite friend is mad (in a good way) and loves bacon
My bestie isn’t perfect but she is always there to lend a sympathetic ear or help out.
The one person I can trust with anything
My best friend is quirky as she is fun and she is the only person I know who is scared of scarecrows and she managed to find a scarecrow festival lol
My favourite friend lives far away but is always there if i need her at the end of a telephone
My favourite friend has been my best friend for 28 years!
My favourite friend is very positive and always sees the best in people !
my friend is crazy, honest and genuine
My hubbie is my best friend ❤️
My friend will do anything for anyone, she is so kind and loving. She has fought cancer, cared for her late mother right to the end, and is now once again fighting cancer. She is such a good friend to me I will do anythign for her I can to help
my friend is always there for me no matter what we do everything together even crazy stuff its hard to tell who is the most crazy at times.
I’ve known my BFF Megan since we were born. We are about to celebrate 30 years of friendship this Christmas!
I love her to the moon and back and trust her with my life. She is like a sister to me.