Jessica

Reach for this book when your child seems more comfortable in their own private world than in the social world, or when they are showing signs of anxiety about the first day of school. It is an ideal choice for validating the rich inner lives of imaginative children who might use a 'special friend' to navigate transition and change. Ruthie and Jessica go everywhere together, despite her parents' gentle insistence that Jessica doesn't exist. This gentle story follows Ruthie through her daily routines and eventually into her first day of kindergarten. Rather than forcing Ruthie to grow out of her imagination, the book celebrates how her creativity provides the bridge she needs to make a real-life connection. It is a warm, affirming look at a common childhood phase that honors a child's emotional process.