A World of Your Own; Laura Carlin

Laura Carlin lets readers into her wonderful and wild imagination in this superb read that is sure to spark the creativity in any young reader.

When Laura Carlin looks at the world she doesn’t just see it as it is, she sees possibilities and opportunities. The rules of the normal world do not apply in Carlin’s imagination. From imaginative ways to be woken up to creating her perfect house complete with slides, a rope ladder and perched in a tree. Ordinary shops are converted into supplies for superheroes and factories have to be the shape of the things that they make - a personal favourite. There are trains shaped like a banana, libraries where you can borrow hair-styles and voices, and a school that teaches cookie-eating, human-pyramid building and how to make a chair float using balloons. I just want to live in Carlin’s world and if that isn’t possible then I will make do by returning to this book regularly just to live in her imagination.

The child-like drawings just ooze creativity and are full of the kind of charm and appeal that readers of all ages will love. You honestly feel like this is a look into the made-up-world of a child and I absolutely love it. As Carlin creates her own world, she wants to readers to join in with her. She does this by giving direct instructions or asking questions that encourage the reader to think and create.

Carlin turns the everyday into the incredible and it is brilliant. She rips up the world as we know it and invites readers into her world, a world of wonderful creations and infinite possibilities. A world that she has designed and it is wonderfully imaginative and imaginatively wonderful. An absolute delight.

Recommended for 6+.