Module 3: The Adventures of Beekle

Book summary: Beekle waits patiently to be imagined and claimed by his special friend. But when the waiting becomes unbearable, Beekle journeys into the unknown to discover to true meaning of friendship.

APA Reference of book: Santat, D. (2014). The adventures of Beekle: the unimaginery friend. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Impressions: Beekle is an endearing character who captures the reader’s heart from the first few pages. The contrasting backgrounds from the first few sets of pages allow Beekle to be the focus of each page, with his gold shining crown sitting proudly upon his head. Beekle’s facial expressions provide a depth of character with even the smallest adjustment from page to page. My two favorite illustrations are when Beekle hands Alice back her first drawing and the second-to-last page where the reader sees all of Alice’s drawings scattered on the ground. The attention to detail, vivid color schemes, and expressive characters leave a lasting impact on the reader.

Professional Review: “PreS-Gr 2—How long would you wait and how far a journey would you make to find your truest friend? Born on an island for imaginary friends, Beekle waits to be “imagined by a real child.” He waits and he waits, but his turn never comes. Filled with impetuous courage, Beekle does the unimaginable and heads out across deep waters until he reaches the real world. He finds that life there is so harried that no one notices him. Eventually, as he waits at the top of a star-leafed tree, a small girl with a friendly face calls out to him with a picture in her hand. They learn to be friends, share adventures and snacks, joke, “and together they did the unimaginable.” Santat’s attention to detail in the mixed-media illustrations shares a child’s eye for laughter and movement on full-bleed spreads with strategically placed text. Gazes of wonderment, broad smiles, and changes in perspective ensure an easy transition from page to page. Beekle’s round white visage and taped orange paper crown are immediately identifiable in each scene, a sharp contrast to his surroundings against variations of dark neutrals on a city street or the brightly colored dragons of a child’s imagination. Like Beekle’s new friend, there’s something here that feels just right as an “unimaginary” friendship creates a joyous, recognizable bond. A terrific addition to any library.”

Reference

Elam, M. (2015 February 2). [Review of the book The adventures of Beekle: the unimaginery friend, by D. Santat]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2015/02/industry-news/slj-reviews-of-2015-youth-media-award-winning-and-honor-books/.

Library Uses: This book encourages the reader to imagine wild fantasies and the unique creatures that live within. I would have students create a character, in both words and illustrations, and progressively build the character’s story. The students will include story elements such as the character’s background, their interests, and their daily activities.