Jessica

Jessica

Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Appropriate for grades K-2

Realistic Fiction

Have you ever had a best friend that was not real? Have you ever had your parents tell you there is no such thing as an imaginary friend? Ruthie doesn't have anoyone else but her best friend, Jessica, who does everything with her from playing to the playground to to going to Ruthie's grandma's house. Find out what her parents think about Jessica, and see what happends when it is time for Ruthie to start kindergarten.

“Ruthie Simms didn’t have a dog. She didn’t have a cat, or a brother, or a sister. But Jessica was the next best thing.” Ruthie and Jessica are always playing together and going everywhere together. If Ruthie wasn’t happy, neither was Jessica. If someone didn’t know Ruthie or Jessica, it would seem as if they were like twins, better yet imaginary twins. Ruthie still struggles with her parents who keep on telling her that there is not Jessica. That doesn’t stop Ruthie though. She still continues to have fun with Jessica. When it came to her parents going or our something bad happening, Ruthie would point the finger at Jessica. The night before Ruthie’s first day of kindergarten, her parents tell her that Jessica has to stay home, and that she needs to make new real friends. There was no way that Ruthie would let Jessica stay home by herself, so Jessica went to school. According to Ruthie, Jessica did not want to be at school, she wanted to go home, but Ruthie held her hand and stayed with her throughout the day. Before the book is over, Ruthie meets someone knew, someone who becomes her best friend, which makes the story plot ironic.

Kevin Henkes uses illustrations that move the story plot along. He doesn’t just have one big picture on the page, instead he has one good sized picture in the center of the page, or he will have a few little pictures placed properly along the page. He ultimately doesn’t utilize the whole page with pictures and words. He either has the pictures spread out with words next to them, or he will use one space of the page for pictures and text. Henkes does a brilliant job making sure his readers can understand the story from what the pictures are showing. Another interesting thought that goes along with the illustrations is that for the pages that show Jessica and Ruthie playing together he shows Ruthie speaking to Jessica. For instance, When Ruthie and Jessica are swinging on the swings at the playground Ruthie says to Jessica, “Not too high, Jessica”. The words not only drew me into the book, but so did the pictures. They really gave me a sense of the connection Ruthie and Jessica have.

Jessica is one book that teachers and parents might share with their children, especially the ones that may be just starting out school. I have talk to a few people who have said they have had imaginary friends before and their parents tried everything to have them to not have thier "friends" anymore or to tell them there is no such thing. This book helps to show that it is okay to let go and make new friends. Making friends is an important factor in kid’s lives, they help them grow, learn, and have fun. It is hard being alone with no one to share things with. Many kids may need a confidence booster to help them make friends when starting out in an unfamiliar place. Read Jessica to young children between the ages of 5 and 7 and respond to the reactions they will give when reading this book.

The connections to the Massachusetts ELZ Frameworks include RL (Key Ideas and Details) 3 and RL (Craft and Structure) 7.