This is the good stuff. A.F. Harrold and Emily Gravett created something genuinely original here—a fantasy that's both whimsical and dark, sweet and scary. It doesn't talk down to kids or shy away from real emotional stakes.
The premise is brilliant: imaginary friends exist in their own world, and when kids forget them, they fade to nothing. Add a villain who hunts them, and you've got a proper page-turner. The writing is literary without being pretentious, and Gravett's illustrations are stunning.
Yes, it's scary—Mr. Bunting is creepy in that Roald Dahl villain way—but it's the kind of scary that kids who are ready for it will love. If your 8-year-old handled Coraline or The Witches, they'll be fine. This isn't gratuitous; it's purposeful.
The book explores big ideas (memory, friendship, what makes us real) in ways that feel earned, not preachy. And now that it's a Netflix film, kids can experience both versions. Highly recommend for the right age group.
