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I am Ray’s Imaginary Friend by Brian Moses ill. Bethan Welby

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Mar 2026

Publisher: Scallywag Press
ISBN: 9781836300342

See also:
On Poetry Street [ACHUKA Book of the Day 27 Jun 2024]
Selfies With Komodos [ACHUKA Book of the Day 30 Jan 2023]
The Best Ever Book of Funny Poems [ACHUKA Book of the Day 18 Mar 2021]

“Quietly brilliant, this is a book that explores coping with change and becoming mentally stronger and the powerful influence of empathy.” RedReadingHub
“Beautifully illustrated throughout with the illustrator sensitively capturing scenes from the story.” ThroughTheBookshelf

A debut verse novel from one of the UK’s most established children’s poets.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Ray loves life in his village, until one day he hears his parents talking about moving house. Horrified by the idea, Ray invents an imaginary friend to talk to and even runs away.

Eventually Ray is able to accept the move, and also the Ukrainian refugee mother and child who come to live with his family in their new home.

As Ray finds his feet again, the Imaginary Friend wonders if he is needed any more, or if he can also move on?

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Oh, Carrots! by Mariajo Ilustrajo

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 1 Apr 2025

Waterstones
Bookshop

See also:
I Love Books [ACHUKA Book of the Day 29 Feb 2024]
Flooded [ACHUKA Book of the Day 9 May 2022]

Mr Rabbit lives alone, and do you know what? He likes it! He enjoys peaceful moments spent reading, drinking cups of tea, and gardening – but sometimes it can get a little too quiet . . .

Luckily, Spring has arrived, and that means Mr Rabbit can plant his favourite vegetable – carrots! 

With some love, sunshine, and a little bit of singing, the carrots begin to grow. But one day, Mr Rabbit spots something unusual – awiggling carrot top! He pulls and pulls, and out pops a walking, talking carrot. 

Carrot only wants to be Mr Rabbit’s friend, but Mr Rabbit just wants to be left alone! From leaving soil all over the sofa to rummaging through Mr Rabbit’s books, Carrot’s mischievous antics leave the solitary rabbit feeling a bit irritated. 

Yet, as the day unfolds, Mr Rabbit finds himself starting to enjoy the company. He’s so used to being all alone that he’s never evenconsidered having a friend. Maybe now is the perfect time for that to change. 

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‘Easter miracle’ for children’s author Eric Carle: After more than 80 years, contact again with a lost friend

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Eric Carle makes contact with lost friend who inspired one of his illustrations

For more than 80 years, Eric Carle – the internationally celebrated author and illustrator of children’s books – wondered about a mystery that began in Syracuse.

As a 3-year-old, Eric was photographed in an embrace with a little girl in a white dress on the city’s North Side. The image carried no identification. Over many decades, he grew more intrigued about the tale behind the girl in the photo, to the point where a fanciful take on her story became central to a book called "Friends" that Eric released last year.

Friendship has always mattered to Eric. While he said the new book had multiple inspirations, the cover art was based specifically on the photo. The original image runs alongside the final page, and the last line in the book is this statement from Eric, now 84:

"I often think about my long-ago friend, and I wonder what happened to her."

Sunday, in what Eric and his wife Bobbie described as an "Easter miracle," he found out.

via 'Easter miracle' for children's author Eric Carle: After more than 80 years, contact again with a lost friend | syracuse.com.