What do you think?
Rate this book
Emma Kate
That adorable Emma Kate has an imaginary friend.They walk to school together every morning, and sit together in class.They sleep over at each other’s houses, and do their homework side by side.They even have their tonsils out and eat gallons of pink ice cream together. But a hilarious twist ending will have readers realizing there’s more to this imaginary friend than meets the eye!
Another of Polacco’s immensely popular younger books, Emma Kate is a wonderfully original story of pretend play and real friendship.
Another of Polacco’s immensely popular younger books, Emma Kate is a wonderfully original story of pretend play and real friendship.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2005
4 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Polacco
95 books1,062 followersPatricia Polacco is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator with around seventy beloved and award-winning books to her credit, including The Keeping Quilt, Pink and Say, The Blessing Cup, Chicken Sunday, and Thank You, Mr. Falker. She resides in Michigan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
February 9, 2020
This is a really nice story about imaginative play. The illustrations are good, I find Patricia Polacco frustrating because I feel her illustrations could be really good, she has the talent to be so, but often they are just okay, sometimes bad, it feels like sometimes she hasn't given it a second try, no refinement, but these are lovely, some great elephant observations.
Read on open library.
Read on open library.
December 19, 2009
Ha ha ha!!! I am completely charmed. This has one of the best twist endings I’ve ever seen, and I didn’t get it ahead of time, even though some readers will because there are definitely clues given throughout the book.
This is a great book about imaginary friends, a story once again based on this author/illustrator’s own childhood. I loved that the very favorite activity of these two is to read together. I was amused by the “café-gym-a-torium.” But mostly, I had a lot of fun with Emma Kate and her imaginary friend. It was also refreshing to read a children’s book that has an elephant that isn’t in a circus or confined in a zoo, or even out in the wild. Polacco has an outstanding imagination!
This is a great book about imaginary friends, a story once again based on this author/illustrator’s own childhood. I loved that the very favorite activity of these two is to read together. I was amused by the “café-gym-a-torium.” But mostly, I had a lot of fun with Emma Kate and her imaginary friend. It was also refreshing to read a children’s book that has an elephant that isn’t in a circus or confined in a zoo, or even out in the wild. Polacco has an outstanding imagination!
February 26, 2010
I loved this sweet story about the power of friendship--even when our friends are imaginary. The illustrations are warm and full of humor and charm and the story is one of Polacco's "simplest" in that it uses only a few words and would be appropriate even for the Kindergarten audience (unlike most of her picture books which are more suited to older readers). The twist at the end was SO much fun--I was like, WOAH, what!?!?! It really made me giggle and also provided food for thought in terms of how quickly we can assume something based on our own notions of how things ought to be.
February 9, 2020
A charming exploration of the theme of imaginary friends, one with a surprise ending, Patricia Polacco's Emma Kate is the story of a girl and an elephant, and their unbreakable bond. Whether going to school or riding a bike, Emma Kate and her pachyderm pal do everything together, even getting tonsilitis at the same time. But when bedtime comes, and Momma and Daddy come in to say goodnight, which of the two friends is the imaginary one...?
I enjoyed this picture-book quite a bit, and was particularly taken with the little tribute, midway through, to Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! - apparently ones of Polacco's favorite books as a girl. The illustrations are a little less colorful than those found in some of the artist's other books - Emma Kate herself sports a brightly colored red dress, but the elephant, and the surroundings, are mostly depicted in unadorned gray pencil - but also very expressive. I thought the elephant's dubious facial expression, in the scene where she and Emma Kate were riding the bike, was just adorable! All in all, this was a pleasure to read, and is one I would recommend to young children who have, or have had, an imaginary friend, to elephant lovers, and to fans of Patricia Polacco's work.
I enjoyed this picture-book quite a bit, and was particularly taken with the little tribute, midway through, to Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! - apparently ones of Polacco's favorite books as a girl. The illustrations are a little less colorful than those found in some of the artist's other books - Emma Kate herself sports a brightly colored red dress, but the elephant, and the surroundings, are mostly depicted in unadorned gray pencil - but also very expressive. I thought the elephant's dubious facial expression, in the scene where she and Emma Kate were riding the bike, was just adorable! All in all, this was a pleasure to read, and is one I would recommend to young children who have, or have had, an imaginary friend, to elephant lovers, and to fans of Patricia Polacco's work.
March 21, 2011
4.5 stars
So, I pretty much loved this book! I think I loved it even more because of the semi-based-on-a-true-story-ness of it.
An elephant is the best friend of the darling little girl in this story, and we get to see all the various things Emma Kate does with her best friend.
I love the illustrations - how the elephant is amidst a world of color (because she's gray, or perhaps another reason).
I also love that the book doesn't really say if Emma Kate's friend is real or not. It leaves it up for the reader (or listener) to interpret, which I think is great and will open the book up for much younger listeners.
Definitely Recommended!
So, I pretty much loved this book! I think I loved it even more because of the semi-based-on-a-true-story-ness of it.
An elephant is the best friend of the darling little girl in this story, and we get to see all the various things Emma Kate does with her best friend.
I love the illustrations - how the elephant is amidst a world of color (because she's gray, or perhaps another reason).
I also love that the book doesn't really say if Emma Kate's friend is real or not. It leaves it up for the reader (or listener) to interpret, which I think is great and will open the book up for much younger listeners.
Definitely Recommended!
October 13, 2014
Honestly the best book I've ever read this is a heart warming story about an elephant who need a friend. I shed multiple tears on to the book and this book made me cry myself to sleep because i was left in a pool of suspense.
October 14, 2015
I absolutely love this book! It shows friendship developing with Emma kate and the elephant. I recommend this book to all children because of the words, drawing, and passion of this book. I gave this book a 5 star rating because it really surprised me, and it deserved it.
January 5, 2011
Book review: Emma Kate
Written by Patricia Polacco
What happens when you have a close friend and you both catch a cold? Will you share food together? According to Emma Kate(which is an elephant) and her close friend, these two friends will do things together They will even catch a cold together.
The story begins as a girl and Emma Kate (her elephant) go to school together. They do things together. They are really best friends. They eat together, they sleep together, and they take baths together.
My favorite part in this book is when they catch a cold together. They don’t really care about their cold; they just get long together.
In some ways, this book is about how close friends do things together, and how they help each other, because they need help, they always help each other .
The story is warm and funny because Emma Kate is an elephant. She shouldn’t go to school, but the girl took her to school. And also the important part is that she did not break any thing! Emma Kate is big, but she is gentle. The girl helps Emma Kate a lot! When boys laugh at her, she yells at them! That let me cry because she is so nice by helping her best friend!
I recommend this book to people who like friendship and elephants. I also recommend this book to 7 to 10 year-old kids; because I think caring for each other is important. People who like cartoons probably will enjoy it. Finally, if you enjoyed this book, you can read My Ol’ Man, Mommies Say Shhh! Oh! Look, G Is For Goat,these are also byPatricia Polacco, you may like this book.
Written by Patricia Polacco
What happens when you have a close friend and you both catch a cold? Will you share food together? According to Emma Kate(which is an elephant) and her close friend, these two friends will do things together They will even catch a cold together.
The story begins as a girl and Emma Kate (her elephant) go to school together. They do things together. They are really best friends. They eat together, they sleep together, and they take baths together.
My favorite part in this book is when they catch a cold together. They don’t really care about their cold; they just get long together.
In some ways, this book is about how close friends do things together, and how they help each other, because they need help, they always help each other .
The story is warm and funny because Emma Kate is an elephant. She shouldn’t go to school, but the girl took her to school. And also the important part is that she did not break any thing! Emma Kate is big, but she is gentle. The girl helps Emma Kate a lot! When boys laugh at her, she yells at them! That let me cry because she is so nice by helping her best friend!
I recommend this book to people who like friendship and elephants. I also recommend this book to 7 to 10 year-old kids; because I think caring for each other is important. People who like cartoons probably will enjoy it. Finally, if you enjoyed this book, you can read My Ol’ Man, Mommies Say Shhh! Oh! Look, G Is For Goat,these are also byPatricia Polacco, you may like this book.
September 7, 2017
What a completely charming book! Emma Kate tells the story of Emma Kate and her best friend as they spend time together, going to school, playing, and generally having a good time. Patricia Polacco takes a fairly routine picture book plot and livens it up with her charming illustrations and beautiful language. I especially loved the unique twist. When I pick up a Polacco book, I expect to be impressed and entertained. This book certainly accomplishes this and would rank as one of my favorite Polacco books!
June 6, 2012
This is a wonderful read aloud!! There's a bit of a surprise ending to this charming story of two friends, one of whom is imaginary but looks to be inspired by an item in the "real" friend's possession. As the mother of three children who all invest their stuffed toys with terribly authentic lives, this was fun for me to read (and my children enjoyed it immensely). I liked the illustrations and use of color in this book a lot.
October 6, 2008
This book is for anyone who had an imaginary friend growing up. It's a very quick read, so be sure to take time to study the illustrations. Not only do they make great use of contrasting colors, they give important clues to the story. Also, this is a book you need to read at least twice! :)
October 14, 2015
This book is very nice. I would recommend it to all the 1st graders. The book is about an elephant which had a friend. They had sleepovers and they went to school together. They also go to the same soccer team. They would dream about each other every night.
March 8, 2016
How can you argue with the genius that is Polacco? Borrowed from her own childhood where she and her imaginary (elephant) friend played together thanks to Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who, Polacco reminds the child in us all that imagination is our greatest ally.
August 12, 2016
Awesome! Delightful illustrations and a wonderful surprise ending.
July 24, 2014
There is a fun twist with this simple story, but what really stands out for me are the illustrations. Marvelous pencil drawings.
May 8, 2022
A cute story with even cuter illustrations and a surprise twist ending
January 1, 2024
Cute picture book to help me reach the challenge 🤦🏼♀️
September 26, 2020
Great for reading aloud in preK-kinder. Love the twist at the end. Will make young readers want to go back and read the story again.
Read
February 6, 2023Text-to-Text Connection
This book was one that I had not read until I had to complete the Author/Illustrator project. This book reminded me of another book out there involving imaginations. These books are so good for students to read. It allows them too escape the real world at times. My favorite book that was read aloud by a teacher when I was young is Skippyjon Jones. It was an amazing book with an imaginary world. It reminded me of the concept of an imagination. This story covers a young girl that has an imaginary friend but gives a surprise at the end of the story. Skippyjon Jones is more of a fun and outgoing imagination vs Emma Kate but they are both really good books.
This book was one that I had not read until I had to complete the Author/Illustrator project. This book reminded me of another book out there involving imaginations. These books are so good for students to read. It allows them too escape the real world at times. My favorite book that was read aloud by a teacher when I was young is Skippyjon Jones. It was an amazing book with an imaginary world. It reminded me of the concept of an imagination. This story covers a young girl that has an imaginary friend but gives a surprise at the end of the story. Skippyjon Jones is more of a fun and outgoing imagination vs Emma Kate but they are both really good books.
December 18, 2010
Emma Kate
By: Patricia Polacco
Reviewed by: Jack
Imagine if Horton comes over and says,” Hey, let’s be friends.” How about if Dumbo comes over and says,” What’s up buddy?” Well in the little girl’s imagination, some elephants will.
The story is basically about a girl doing everything with Emma, an elephant. They go to sleep together, eat together, go to school together, they even do their homework together. The elephant is her best friend. It's so amusing that she rides her bike home with Emma sitting on the back of the bicycle. Impossible, right? I know because the elephant is only the little girl’s imaginary friend. I think the little girl is the only child in the family so that’s why she became so lonely.
This book is special because the author dedicated the book to Dr. Suess and Horton. She had an elephant as her imaginary friend because she really likes the book Horton Hatches the Egg. If you read this book you will probably realize this, too. Patricia Polacco emphasizes this by only putting the colors on the little girl. The rest of the illustrations or the backgrounds are all black and white.
This book is full of energy. It shows that how important friendship is. I think this book would suit readers who are about 6-8 years old. I really like the book because it’s so touching and warm to see them helping each other when they need help or someone to accompany them.
This is a book that actually has a very deep meaning to it. The author is so brave and imaginative to convert such an ordinary story into an amazingly extraordinary story. Patricia Polacco makes you really want to have an elephant. She brings you into a world where anything can happen, if you believe.
By: Patricia Polacco
Reviewed by: Jack
Imagine if Horton comes over and says,” Hey, let’s be friends.” How about if Dumbo comes over and says,” What’s up buddy?” Well in the little girl’s imagination, some elephants will.
The story is basically about a girl doing everything with Emma, an elephant. They go to sleep together, eat together, go to school together, they even do their homework together. The elephant is her best friend. It's so amusing that she rides her bike home with Emma sitting on the back of the bicycle. Impossible, right? I know because the elephant is only the little girl’s imaginary friend. I think the little girl is the only child in the family so that’s why she became so lonely.
This book is special because the author dedicated the book to Dr. Suess and Horton. She had an elephant as her imaginary friend because she really likes the book Horton Hatches the Egg. If you read this book you will probably realize this, too. Patricia Polacco emphasizes this by only putting the colors on the little girl. The rest of the illustrations or the backgrounds are all black and white.
This book is full of energy. It shows that how important friendship is. I think this book would suit readers who are about 6-8 years old. I really like the book because it’s so touching and warm to see them helping each other when they need help or someone to accompany them.
This is a book that actually has a very deep meaning to it. The author is so brave and imaginative to convert such an ordinary story into an amazingly extraordinary story. Patricia Polacco makes you really want to have an elephant. She brings you into a world where anything can happen, if you believe.
February 13, 2016
Based in part on the author's own childhood experiences with an imaginary friend, this picture book will connect with many imaginative youngsters. A girl and her elephant do just about everything together, from going to school to riding bikes together in their free time. Clearly, they are the best of friends, and nothing could come between them, not even doubting parents. Youngsters may smile in glee at the ending's twist since it seems as though Emma Kate could be the girl and the elephant, and both of them are dreaming of their own imaginary friend. The illustrations, created deftly and effectively here with pencils and markers, rely heavily on the grays of pencil shadings to create the elephant and colors for the girl's clothing. Although I'm not as fond of this picture book as I am of some other Polacco titles, I'm still happy to add it to my personal connection because of the creativity in imagining such a perfect friend on the part of both characters. I actually had to rely heavily on the pictures to understand what was happening, which leads me to expect that young readers might also need to read the book more slowly than some other picture books. This talented storyteller simply never runs out of relatable tales to tell.
July 11, 2012
Theme: How to be a friend/ what friendship looks like
A sweet story of friendship that kids could easily relate to. What are characteristics of a great friend-even if that friend is imaginary? A great book for text- to-self-connections.
As I began reading I right away started thinking about point of view and how this is a great example of a story told from first person point of view. The great twist of "who" is telling the story made this terrific book that I would have given four stars to a five star!
I love Patricia Polacco and this book lives up to her sense of storytelling and pictures that looks like sketches straight out of your family photo album. I also loved the length of this story (shorter than most of her books) which makes it great for a reading workshop whole group lesson.
Writing workshop idea: Using this story for point of view or stories with a surprise ending.
A sweet story of friendship that kids could easily relate to. What are characteristics of a great friend-even if that friend is imaginary? A great book for text- to-self-connections.
As I began reading I right away started thinking about point of view and how this is a great example of a story told from first person point of view. The great twist of "who" is telling the story made this terrific book that I would have given four stars to a five star!
I love Patricia Polacco and this book lives up to her sense of storytelling and pictures that looks like sketches straight out of your family photo album. I also loved the length of this story (shorter than most of her books) which makes it great for a reading workshop whole group lesson.
Writing workshop idea: Using this story for point of view or stories with a surprise ending.
August 15, 2012
Emma Kate and her best friend do everything together, even though one of them is an elephant and the other a human girl. They walk to school, go to soccer, have sleepovers, do homework, and read together. They even have their tonsils out together! Emma Kate and her best friend are so inseparable readers will find the twist at the end surprising and amusing. Spoiler alert: Emma Kate is the little girl, not the elephant!
Polacco’s pencil and watercolor illustrations render an incredibly detailed world in smudgy soft-focus. Color is used sparingly and usually it’s only Emma Kate’s bright red and green dress that colors the page. The text, written in first person present tense, is deceptively simple. The text and illustrations are so cleverly laid out that readers won’t guess the twist until the very last page.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
Polacco’s pencil and watercolor illustrations render an incredibly detailed world in smudgy soft-focus. Color is used sparingly and usually it’s only Emma Kate’s bright red and green dress that colors the page. The text, written in first person present tense, is deceptively simple. The text and illustrations are so cleverly laid out that readers won’t guess the twist until the very last page.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
February 12, 2012
This book was super interesting!
I got a recommendation for this book from somewhere... but I can't remember where!
This is the story of a girl and an elephant who are friends. It is told in first-person, and you assume from the beginning that the girl is speaking about her elephant friend, Emma Kate. Throughout the book, my students and I talked about imaginary friends (which is apparently a totally foreign concept to them). Then at the end, it is revealed that the ELEPHANT is narrating the book, and the girl is the imaginary friend!! That really freaked out the kids.
After we figured this out, we went back and looked for clues that the elephant was the narrator. When you know what you're looking for, you find a lot of clues!
So this book really messed with our heads and the kids loved it. Besides the twist, it is pretty simple story and a very quick read-aloud.
I got a recommendation for this book from somewhere... but I can't remember where!
This is the story of a girl and an elephant who are friends. It is told in first-person, and you assume from the beginning that the girl is speaking about her elephant friend, Emma Kate. Throughout the book, my students and I talked about imaginary friends (which is apparently a totally foreign concept to them). Then at the end, it is revealed that the ELEPHANT is narrating the book, and the girl is the imaginary friend!! That really freaked out the kids.
After we figured this out, we went back and looked for clues that the elephant was the narrator. When you know what you're looking for, you find a lot of clues!
So this book really messed with our heads and the kids loved it. Besides the twist, it is pretty simple story and a very quick read-aloud.
May 8, 2014
Just as diligently nourish our children with fruits and veggies, so must we nourish their imaginations.
"Emma Kate" is a nutrient rich super dose of fun and imagination feeding goodness.
Patricia Polacco makes it hard to believe Kate's elephant friend isn't real, even as a grown up. Love the illustrated distinction of colour and sketch to determine some of the real parts from fantasy.
Artistically so rich yet simple, a wonderful exploration for a young artist to appreciate deeply.
A wonderful book to have on hand for no reason at all or as intentional creative engagement or to comfort a child with imaginary friends or a combination of some of the above.
This is a book I slowly turn the pages to once my little one is off to sleep...shhhh!
"Emma Kate" is a nutrient rich super dose of fun and imagination feeding goodness.
Patricia Polacco makes it hard to believe Kate's elephant friend isn't real, even as a grown up. Love the illustrated distinction of colour and sketch to determine some of the real parts from fantasy.
Artistically so rich yet simple, a wonderful exploration for a young artist to appreciate deeply.
A wonderful book to have on hand for no reason at all or as intentional creative engagement or to comfort a child with imaginary friends or a combination of some of the above.
This is a book I slowly turn the pages to once my little one is off to sleep...shhhh!
October 10, 2010
I enjoyed the illustrations more than the story with this one. The way the elephant is shown interacting with the little girl is quite humorous. She teaches him to write "elephant" with his trunk holding the pencil. I loved the picture of the car pulling up to soccer practice, with one side down lower than the other and the tires almost flattened by the weight of the elephant, and the next one, where the girl and the elephant are sitting on the sofa reading, with one end of the sofa crushed down to the floor by the weight of the elephant. In the end, which one is the imaginary friend? Clever!
January 9, 2013
Emma Kate and her best friend do everything together - walk to school, ride bikes, do homework - even have their tonsils out! Even though Emma Kate's best friend's parents think that Emma Kate is purely imaginary, that doesn't deter them from being best friends.
As I was reading this book, I thought it was a sweet, simple book about having an imaginary friend. But the twist at the end made it that much better. Just wonderful. In fact, I had to reread the book multiple times to see if I had missed clues. I am hoping to use this in a storytime sometime soon - I would love to see what the children think.
As I was reading this book, I thought it was a sweet, simple book about having an imaginary friend. But the twist at the end made it that much better. Just wonderful. In fact, I had to reread the book multiple times to see if I had missed clues. I am hoping to use this in a storytime sometime soon - I would love to see what the children think.
May 17, 2011
Emma Kate and her best friend do everything together. They go to school together, play together, get their tonsils out, and eat gallons of pink ice cream together. There is a funny surprise twist at the end, but I don't think that any of the children (or even adults) at my storytime got it (or if they did, they didn't say "ohhhhh!" or laugh). In fact, I didn't even get it when I first read it, because I wasn't paying much attention to the pictures. This would also be great for a storytime or thematic unit about best friends.
Ages 3-5
Ages 3-5
February 2, 2013
We really enjoy Patricia Polacco's stories and so we look for them often at our local library. Lucky for us, she is a very prolific writer, so we still have several more of her books to discover.
This is an entertaining story about an imaginary friend. The story has an unusual twist at the end, although I'm not sure that it added to my enjoyment of the tale.
Overall, this was a fun book to read aloud and we enjoyed reading this book together.
This is an entertaining story about an imaginary friend. The story has an unusual twist at the end, although I'm not sure that it added to my enjoyment of the tale.
Overall, this was a fun book to read aloud and we enjoyed reading this book together.
February 8, 2017
That adorable Emma Kate has an imaginary friend.They walk to school together every morning, and sit together in class.They sleep over at each other’s houses, and do their homework side by side.They even have their tonsils out and eat gallons of pink ice cream together. But a hilarious twist ending will have readers realizing there’s more to this imaginary friend than meets the eye!
Another of Polacco’s immensely popular younger books, Emma Kate is a wonderfully original story of pretend play and real friendship.
Another of Polacco’s immensely popular younger books, Emma Kate is a wonderfully original story of pretend play and real friendship.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews