Jessica
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  JournalBest Book of the Year,Horn BookFanfare Honor List, IRA/CBC Children's Choice,American BooksellerPick of the Lists. (Ages 3 and older)--Gail Hudson--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.