Slightly Invisible – Lauren Child

Have you had an imaginary friend, or does you child have one. They are pretty common. One of my daughter had an invisible friend called Elizabeth and now at 9 she admits that she still sometimes plays with Elizabeth. “Imaginary companions are an integral part of many children's lives. They provide comfort in times of stress, companionship when they're lonely, someone to boss around when they feel powerless, and someone to blame for the broken lamp in the living room. Most important, an imaginary companion is a tool young children use to help them make sense of the adult world”. Lawrence Kutner
Those of you who are familiar with Charlie and Lola, whether through Lauren Child's books or the adaptation on ABC TV will know that Lola has an imaginary friend called Soren Lorenson. He plays a very important part in Lauren Child's latest book. Big brother Charlie and his friend Marv want to play by themselves as Lola often seems to always take over their make-believe play. They are planning how they can catch the 'strange and terrifyingly tricky creature' and decide to make an invisibility potion. Before they get to use it they find that someone has already drunk it and now they can't creep up on the creature. But help is on the way in the form of Soren Lorenson and all they need is a tea set, a little card, a rabbit and three glasses of pink milk........
The book is the fourth Charlie and Lola book that Child has written. (There are other Charlie and Lola books around but they are based on the script from TV series). It is full of typical Lola-isms and child logic. The illustrations are bright and the text is wound through the pictures as is typical for Charlie and Lola books. The story line really reflects child make-believe play with the illogical turns that the role playing can take. My children enjoyed this book and the idea of making a potion that can make you invisible. This book is quickly becoming a favourite bed time story 8/10.