The Horn Book Guide

YOUNGER FICTION

Jenkins, Emily

Invisible Inkling

156 pp. | HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray | May, 2011 | Trade ISBN 978-0-06-180220-1 $14.99

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by Harry Bliss. Fourth-grader Hank Wolowitz has a very special imaginary friend: an invisible, squash-loving, almost-extinct bandapat named Inkling, whose attempts to help Hank with a bully go spectacularly wrong. Children will find this cranky bandapat tale (enhanced with Harry Bliss's droll illustrations) hilarious and heartwarming. It's a perfect choice for an early school year read-aloud: straightforward, zippy plot, likable characters, and believable family.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2011