The Girl and the
Part of the collectionThe Girl and the→Best for gentle read-alouds about magical creature friends, loneliness, family, courage and the power of imagination.
- Books2 / 2
- Arcs1
- Span2020–2025
- StatusOngoing
The series
At a glance.
The Girl and the... is a picture-book series by Hollie Hughes, illustrated by Sarah Massini. The Girl and the Dinosaur follows a lonely girl who discovers dinosaur bones and imagines a magical friendship, while The Girl and the Mermaid extends the same emotional register into a sea-and-family story. The books are soft, lyrical and visually rich, with a strong read-aloud feel and an emphasis on imagination as a route into connection. They are especially good for children who respond to beautiful fantasy-inflected picture books rather than loud comedy.
Best for gentle read-alouds about magical creature friends, loneliness, family, courage and the power of imagination.
Primary themes
Overall tone
- Gentle
- Warm
- Whimsical
- Heartwarming
The books can be read independently. The Girl and the Dinosaur is the clearest entry point because it establishes the imaginative creature-friendship mode.
One arc
The shape of the series.
- IStandalone collection arcBooks 1–2 · 2020–2025Low sensitivity
Magical friends found through imagination
Two lyrical picture books about a girl, magical creature friendships, loneliness, family and wonder.
The Girl and the... works as one small standalone collection united by mood and structure rather than continuing plot. The Girl and the Dinosaur gives a lonely child a dinosaur companion through discovery and imagination, while The Girl and the Mermaid turns towards sea magic, family and courage. Both books are low sensitivity and highly suited to gentle shared reading. Their strongest recommendation value is atmosphere: they give children a beautiful, emotionally safe space where longing, loneliness and magical friendship can be explored without sharp peril.
Fit check
Right for your reader?
Where the series lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
- Best fit · 3–7
- Read aloud · 3–7
- Independent · 6–8
Reluctant-reader friendliness
Patchy
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Adult crossover
High
Grows with the reader
Not especially
Sensitivity envelope
Low overall, and consistent.
Where it sits
In conversation with other series.
Similar in feel
Different shelves, same wavelength.
Read this after…
Series that pick up where The Girl and the leaves off.
About the author