Scribbly: A Real Imaginary Friend Tale by Ged Adamson (review)

Maude is excited about all the fresh things to experience after she moves to a new town, but her loneliness propels her to draw an imaginary dog named Scribbly and take him with her wherever she goes. When she's invited to a birthday party, Maude tries to go alone initially but can't let go of her old friend, and Scribbly is a big hit with everyone at the party. Though Maude attributes her popularity to Scribbly, Mom assures her that it's really Maude's own positive traits the kids liked, and the two go out and get a real dog from the shelter to join Scribbly. The message isn't unsubtle, but the friendship, in Maude's innocent narrative, is affectionate and enviable. The art is playful, with Maude and her agemates being significantly shorter than the adults with big heads and small limbs and Scribbly a linework creation right out of a child's drawing; the watercolor and pencil art depicts the characters in vibrant colors and backgrounds in soothing pastels. Kids expecting a situation where they'll be forced to socialize with a new group will relate to Maude's predicament, and it's sweet that Maude gets to keep her imaginary buddy instead of needing to move on from him when the new dog enters the scene.