Lonesome Lawrie…abundantly alliterative, this story is an excellent addition to the classroom if you’re looking for a model text rich in description and imagination.
‘Time extends into time’ as the adventure follows Lawrie, an imaginary creature with two stomachs, tusks and wings, and his friends, Fizz and Flip, on their journey to find Lawrie a special friend of his own. The writer clearly has a wonderful imagination as the world in which they travel, and the creatures they meet are all unique and rather bizarre! The characters are a little simplistic and there’s a heavy focus on their meal times throughout the novel but they are at least intriguing to read about.
With challenging vocabulary oozing from every page, teachers will certainly delight in the opportunity to demonstrate to pupils how certain words can be used in context. Add to that the detailed glossary, GPS dictionary, comprehension question set and PSHE questions at the back of the book, and you have yourself an excellent resource for extending children’s learning beyond the pages of a story. However, although the vocabulary is ambitious and does create a vivid image in the reader’s mind, it distracts heavily from the plot and feels slightly shoe-horned in rather than having a purpose. As a result, the plot isn’t as gripping as it could be, which is a shame given how the book inspires people to be as creative as they possibly can be!
The Book Dragon reviewed this book on behalf of the author and applauds the innovation of the story, which will no doubt spark children’s imagination. With more emphasis on the plot, this book has potential to be a page turner. However, at this time, we award it 3 stars.
