Charming. Henkes's children's poses look like Sendak's.

Ruthie does everything with her imaginary friend Jessica, and then on her first day at kindergarten, she meets a real new friend with the same name.

Ruthie Simms didn't have a dog.
She didn't have a cat,
or a brother,
or a sister.
But Jessica was the next best thing.

Jessica is Ruthie's imaginary friend, and she even comes to the first day of kindergarten. But there, a marvelous thing happens when the children are asked to pair up to walk to the bathroom...

See also: Owen by Kevin Henkes ( )

Ruthie does everything with her imaginary friend Jessica, and then on her first day of kindergarten, she meet a real new friend with the same name.

A little girl Ruth has a best friend names Jessica. Jessica happens to be imaginary. Ruth doesn't have any other friends besides Jessica, until she moves onto kindergarten. She was very shy, but was finally able to make a friend and her name was Jessica.