I am Ray’s Imaginary Friend
Brian Moses, illustrated by Bethan Welby
Scallywag Press

Written in verse by poet Brian Moses, this is an intensely moving, sensitive story about coping with change. Its narrator is one of the star pupils from the School for Imaginary Friends who is given the name Jacob when he responds to eight year old Ray’s call of distress.

Ray loves his life in Pratts Bottom village but then he overhears his parents talking about moving away because his Dad has a new job. Horrified by the idea he even contemplates running away. Instead he calls into being an imaginary friend. Jacob. Jacob takes his role very seriously, even going so far as to deliver difficult messages to Ray, knowing that in the long run they will help the boy. In addition to being there for him, Jacob particularly likes to say ‘yes’. ‘I like to say yes, / even if I ought to say no. / Saying yes makes Ray feel good / and makes me feel good too.’ we read.
To begin with Ray does lots of everyday things with Jacob as well telling his mum off when she almost drives into him. It’s merely a phase, is what his parents think.

A little while later at his new school, Ray’s teacher talks about what’s happening in Ukraine and this leads to two things: first Ray writes a poem about it which is put on the school website and then his family decide to open their new home to two Ukrainian refugees.

As he hears about and processes what the mother and son have endured, Ray realises that his own problems are not so bad after all and it’s then that Jacob knows it’s time for him to find someone else to help.

Quietly brilliant, this is a book that explores coping with change and becoming mentally stronger and the powerful influence of empathy. The latter in particular is brought out beautifully in Bethan Welby’s black and white drawings. It’s a must read for older KS2 readers either at home or as a shared class book.