My Friend, Billy Whiskers
David Litchfield
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

Patrick is shy and as a consequence doesn’t join in with other children’s play. However, Patrick has Billy Whiskers, an imaginary lion friend that nobody else can see. They cycle together, read stories together and Billy listens as Patrick talks about all kinds of things. Billy’s a great listener; he listens as they play games and use the swings; he encourages Patrick when he kicks the ball up in the air over and over and when he climbs his favourite tree, watching the other children as he does so.

Patrick worries more and more about making friends and that’s when Billy takes him on extraordinary adventures through the air, through magical forests, eventually reaching a stadium where the boy scores the wining goal in a soccer game. Their adventures together make Billy ‘feel big and brave.’ Now he has the confidence to say hello to other children and at last he’s invited to play with them.

Patrick has a great time until he falls from a tree and back come all those worries. making him long to fly away with Billy Whiskers once again. That’s when something truly magical happens …

That’s not quite the end of the story, for Billy remains a part of Patrick’s story throughout his life, but he only appears now and then.

David Litchfield’s watercolour scenes are every bit as magical as the adventures Patrick and Billy Whiskers share, particularly those of the two characters flying through the starry skies and wandering through the forest.