Fantastic Picture Books That Celebrate Imaginary Friends

by Melissa Taylor

Photo credit: Flashpop, Stone Collection/Getty Images

I love when children have imaginary friends in both real life and in books. One of my daughters did, and one didn’t.

Imaginary friends help a child feel in charge, less alone, and more able to express their emotions. Often, children will invent imaginary friends so they’ll have some else to blame for their behavior. (Smart kids!)

Whether or not your child spends time with an imaginary friend, it’s entertaining to read about kids who do in one of these fantastic picture books that feature imaginary friends.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2021.