Crenshaw

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Crenshaw the cat is the imaginary friend of Jackson who only shows up when there is a problem in Jackson's life. Crenshaw is also a cat that is about the size of a person. Some of the problems that Crenshaw shows up to help Jackson through include his dad having MS, his mom loosing her job, which makes her have to work three jobs, and the family ends up having to live in their van each time they cannot pay the rent. Jackson has a hard time keeping friends because he is having to move from place to place, also, he is poor which makes him not be able to fit in with many of the other kids his age. Each time Jackson's parents are unable to make the rent they have a garage sale. Before the sale his parents ask him and his little sister put what they want to hold onto in a keepsake bag. All they want to keep must fit in the bag or it will have to go in the garage sale. After these garage sales the family ends up moving and living in their van for a while. This also makes it difficult for Jackson to make any friends. So Crenshaw appears to help him through these trying times, and help him with his insecurities about not being able to make friends. At the end of the story he meets a girl who becomes his friend who also has an imaginary friend and she lets him know that having an imaginary friend is okay.

This book would be helpful in teaching children that it is okay to be different and to celebrate their differences. Also, it would be a good book to use to teach children that everyone goes through hard times, but you can get through it. This books is another one that teaches the importance of friendship and how being/having a good friend can help during hard times.

In Crenshaw the main character, Franklin, is having trouble developing socially and emotionally due to the family's constant moving around. Because of this he develops Crenshaw, his imaginary friend, who happens to be a cat. As is mentioned in the textbook, "books can serve as portals to help students see others struggling with similar emotions and feelings and reactions." (p. 23) This book would be a good one to help students who are struggling with moving, not being able to make friends, and those whose families are going through tough times.

Citation

Applegate, K. (2015). Crenshaw. New York, NY: Fiewel and Friends.