about the book
Best friends are sometimes the most important friends.
When Phillip, a young boy, goes with his family to the Big Fair, his best friend Brock comes along. Brock wears a skull-and-crossbones T-shirt, has rippling muscles, scraggly hair, and is never without his ninja swords. He looks dangerous, but Brock is really a kind-hearted softy. He is also imaginary—whatever that means, thinks Phillip.
Phillip and Brock go everywhere together, but at the Fair Brock gets lost. Lonely and having no clue where to find Phillip, Brock is taken in by Anne, a little girl, and Anne’s own imaginary friend, the beautiful Princess Sparkle Dust. Their warmth of their company cheers Brock up, but he still misses Phillip. Together, the two imaginary friends and the little girl vow to do whatever it takes to find Phillip.
Eventually reunited, Phillip and Anne become friends—and so do Brock and Princess Sparkle Dust!
about the author/illustrator
Carter Goodrich grew up with dogs. As a matter of fact, he can hardly remember a time in his childhood when there wasn’t at least one pooch napping, demanding dinner, or just goofing around.
One day while riding in his brother’s truck, his brother’s dog, Gus, a rescued runaway, started barking at a dog on the sidewalk. Carter’s brother interpreted what he thought the hilarious conversation was between the two yapping dogs, and that was how Say Hello to Zorro got started. Zorro is based on a pug owned by Carter’s aunt. The dog’s name was Ozzie, but because Carter is dyslexic, he always called the dog Zorro—kept getting the Z’s and O’z mixed up!
After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, Carter got his start as a freelance illustrator and writer in 1983 when he shared studio space with longtime friend and fellow illustrator Buck Lewis.
The award-winning Carter has illustrated seventeen New Yorker covers. Working with Dreamworks and Pixar, Carter also designed characters for several animated films, including Despicable Me, Finding Nemo, Shrek, Monsters Inc., Open Season, Ratatouille, Hotel Transylvania, The Croods, and Brave.
Carter currently lives in Los Angeles, California. Although he currently does not have a dog, he says that they make everything in life better!
Sources:
Author website
Author biography: Amazon
Author letter to reader: KidsBuzz
Author interview: Croods
Also by Carter Goodrich:
Mister Bud Wears the Cone. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 2014.
Zorro Gets an Outfit. Simon & Schuster. 2012.
Say Hello to Zorro! Simon & Schuster. 2011.
The Hermit Crab. Simon & Schuster. 2009.
A Creature Was Stirring : One Boy’s Night Before Christmas. Simon & Schuster. 2006.
read more!
The Adventures of Beekle, the Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Far away on a magical island, where imaginary friends are born, one little creature waits to be chosen by a child on the mainland. He’s pudgy and cute and wears a paper crown on his head, but even so he does not get chosen. Tired of waiting, he sets out for the bustling city, where he finally meets his match and gets his name: Beekle!
Imaginary Fred by Eoin Colfer
Fred, an imaginary friend, was aimlessly floating on the wind until a lonely boy named Sam wished for him. Usually Fred is needed only for a day or two while kids find “real” friends at school, but Sam hangs around longer. However, when Sam finds a girl named Sammi, Fred is worried—but Sammi has her own imaginary friend, Frieda, who may be just what Fred needs.
Mister Bud Wears the Cone by Carter Goodrich
Mister Bud and Zorro, two very different dogs, have become friends, but will their friendship stand the test of the dreaded cone? Mister Bud seems to have come down with a “bad hot spot,” which he cannot help but lick and scratch at. The cone goes on. Zorro can’t help but laugh. Will Mister Bud’s patience see him through? And will Zorro get a karma slap?