Maias Mermaid Friend (hardcover)

Maia is going to the race, but it's early. She stops to look at her reflection in the pond. The reflection turns into another girl -- a girl who is swimming -- a girl who is a mermaid named Trezzie. Trezzie takes Maia's hand and together they swim to her castle under the water. She gives Maia a piece of a plant that becomes a doorbell, so Maia can call her any time. The two of them skip stones across the water. Maia's friend Fig shows up. "Where were you? Why weren't you at the race?" Maia tries to explain she was swimming with her new friend Trezzie. Fig can't see Trezzie and doesn't believe her. Fig goes away mad. Trezzie resurfaces. Maia and Trezzie continue playing.

Having an imaginary friend can be confusing. The child who has this friend sees and hears this playmate, just like all the others. But when the child talks about this friend, nobody believes the stories. And the friend is never there when the child wants to introduce him or her. This sweet story shows both the real friendship and the frustration of not being believed.

This is an imaginary friend story. Kids who have imaginary friends see them the same way they see regular people --they are just as real. Kids who don't have imaginary friends don't understand. I wrote this story to help kids who have friends that others can't see know that they aren't alone. And to help kids who never had imaginary friends understand what it's like.