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Flights of Fancy: Creative Inspiration from Ten Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators
In a beautiful anthology, ten children’s book greats share stories, poems, pictures, tips, and prompts meant to inspire young readers to create works of their own.
Have you ever sparked the start of a story by playing a game of What if? Is there any value to all that doodling you do? What does being “a sponge” have to do with facing down a blank page? Did you know that pictures can sometimes inspire stories, rather than the other way around? From Quentin Blake’s drawings of fantastical vehicles to Michael Rosen’s inside look at his poetry, from Anthony Browne’s shape game (no need to be an artist to play) to Lauren Child’s look at her creative process, this anthology — whose contributors were all British Children’s Laureates — aims to encourage budding writers and artists to let their imaginations soar. The final spread is a collection of prompts from all the contributors, passing the creative torch to the next generation.
With contributions by:
Malorie Blackman
Quentin Blake
Anthony Browne
Lauren Child
Julia Donaldson
Anne Fine
Michael Morpurgo
Chris Riddell
Michael Rosen
Jacqueline Wilson
Have you ever sparked the start of a story by playing a game of What if? Is there any value to all that doodling you do? What does being “a sponge” have to do with facing down a blank page? Did you know that pictures can sometimes inspire stories, rather than the other way around? From Quentin Blake’s drawings of fantastical vehicles to Michael Rosen’s inside look at his poetry, from Anthony Browne’s shape game (no need to be an artist to play) to Lauren Child’s look at her creative process, this anthology — whose contributors were all British Children’s Laureates — aims to encourage budding writers and artists to let their imaginations soar. The final spread is a collection of prompts from all the contributors, passing the creative torch to the next generation.
With contributions by:
Malorie Blackman
Quentin Blake
Anthony Browne
Lauren Child
Julia Donaldson
Anne Fine
Michael Morpurgo
Chris Riddell
Michael Rosen
Jacqueline Wilson
80 pages, Hardcover
Published April 9, 2019
2 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Malorie Blackman
156 books4,523 followersAn award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.
More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 5, 2019
Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
In 1999 Quentin Blake – You probably know him best as the illustrator of Roald Dahl’s books – Became the first Children’s Laureate. This is an award that is given every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of children’s books to celebrate their outstanding achievement.
Over the last twenty years there have been ten Children’s Laureates and in this anthology, you will find all ten of them in chronological order writing about their passion. Some have tales to tell, others drawings to share. The book is about igniting a love for reading and captivating children’s imaginations.
Throughout you can find out about how Quentin Blake puts himself in the stories before drawing his fabulous illustrations. How author Anne Fine, who wrote Madame Doubtfire which was adapted to for screen and became Mrs Doubtfire, came to have a love of bookplates. Listen to Micheal Morpurgo, author of War Horse, as he tells children how to find their own voices, plus many more wonderful chapters.
I enjoyed the book immensely, there was something completely different waiting in each chapter, as each one was written by a different author. At the back of the book, there is information on each of the authors and also twenty ideas for creative projects including keeping a doodle diary or making a word wheel.
This is a book that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Don’t forget people like myself grew up with some of these authors so it was nice to hear about them in their own words and with their own illustrations.
This year there will be events around the country celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Children’s Laureate. Whether you can attend one or not you really should be picking up this book as it will make you smile and bring you so much joy.
The ten Children’s laureates are – Quentin Blake, Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen, Anthony Browne, Julia Donaldson, Malorie Blackman, Chris Riddell, and Lauren Child.
In 1999 Quentin Blake – You probably know him best as the illustrator of Roald Dahl’s books – Became the first Children’s Laureate. This is an award that is given every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of children’s books to celebrate their outstanding achievement.
Over the last twenty years there have been ten Children’s Laureates and in this anthology, you will find all ten of them in chronological order writing about their passion. Some have tales to tell, others drawings to share. The book is about igniting a love for reading and captivating children’s imaginations.
Throughout you can find out about how Quentin Blake puts himself in the stories before drawing his fabulous illustrations. How author Anne Fine, who wrote Madame Doubtfire which was adapted to for screen and became Mrs Doubtfire, came to have a love of bookplates. Listen to Micheal Morpurgo, author of War Horse, as he tells children how to find their own voices, plus many more wonderful chapters.
I enjoyed the book immensely, there was something completely different waiting in each chapter, as each one was written by a different author. At the back of the book, there is information on each of the authors and also twenty ideas for creative projects including keeping a doodle diary or making a word wheel.
This is a book that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Don’t forget people like myself grew up with some of these authors so it was nice to hear about them in their own words and with their own illustrations.
This year there will be events around the country celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Children’s Laureate. Whether you can attend one or not you really should be picking up this book as it will make you smile and bring you so much joy.
The ten Children’s laureates are – Quentin Blake, Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen, Anthony Browne, Julia Donaldson, Malorie Blackman, Chris Riddell, and Lauren Child.
March 21, 2019
Stunning anthology of British author's and illustrator's. The best of the best. With a great introduction by the wonderful Anita Silvey.
February 8, 2019
Galvanising and informative dip-in snippets for schools and readers.
The first ten Laureates, all present and correct, each take a turn in sharing their experiences in the post and their specialisms, giving insight into their writing/creative processes and then ideas for stimulating these in the reader.
Included are games you can play with words and pictures (Anthony Browne's Shape Game looks great!!), with friends or in a class, ideas on how to prompt yourself into forming the basis of a story, examples of diary stories and poems.
It's beautifully presented, with photos, drawings, and lots of illustrations breaking up the text, which is itself not overly dense. Chris Riddell adds his own portraits of all concerned.
I enjoyed the insights into the writers/artists' early days and how they come up with ideas (Michael Rosen gives a wonderful example on creating a poem). I also cried at Morpurgo's inclusion of 'I Believe in Unicorns'. Julia Donaldson's playscript is brilliant (and of course, rhyming).
A great tour through some major stops in the world of children's literature. With some trusted and approachable figures.
One that every school should have a copy of, either in the library or on the desk of the English Co-ordinator. For use with KS2 and KS3.
With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.
The first ten Laureates, all present and correct, each take a turn in sharing their experiences in the post and their specialisms, giving insight into their writing/creative processes and then ideas for stimulating these in the reader.
Included are games you can play with words and pictures (Anthony Browne's Shape Game looks great!!), with friends or in a class, ideas on how to prompt yourself into forming the basis of a story, examples of diary stories and poems.
It's beautifully presented, with photos, drawings, and lots of illustrations breaking up the text, which is itself not overly dense. Chris Riddell adds his own portraits of all concerned.
I enjoyed the insights into the writers/artists' early days and how they come up with ideas (Michael Rosen gives a wonderful example on creating a poem). I also cried at Morpurgo's inclusion of 'I Believe in Unicorns'. Julia Donaldson's playscript is brilliant (and of course, rhyming).
A great tour through some major stops in the world of children's literature. With some trusted and approachable figures.
One that every school should have a copy of, either in the library or on the desk of the English Co-ordinator. For use with KS2 and KS3.
With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.
March 11, 2019
This is a really special kind of book. Utterly filled to the brim with some incredible, inspirational and truly talented creators who simply want to pass on some of what they know to encourage children to be imaginative and create things too. An absolute gem - I would encourage any parent to introduce their child to this anthology.
Ten Children's Laureates (super skilled and acknowledged Children's writers or illustrators) have come together to write about what they love - the book is divided into each individuals chosen area and gives them space to share some ideas. Some are stories, some are how to get started with an idea, others are simply showcasing how they came up with theirs - like Quentin Blake and the BFG for instance.
I can't see how any child couldn't be inspired by this collection. Absolutely worth investing it.
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
Ten Children's Laureates (super skilled and acknowledged Children's writers or illustrators) have come together to write about what they love - the book is divided into each individuals chosen area and gives them space to share some ideas. Some are stories, some are how to get started with an idea, others are simply showcasing how they came up with theirs - like Quentin Blake and the BFG for instance.
I can't see how any child couldn't be inspired by this collection. Absolutely worth investing it.
ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2021
Delightful profiles of children's book author and illustrators, Children's Laureates, and stellar creators. Each has a few pages to talk about how they work, suggest exercises and strategies for the young reader, and show their illustration.
April 12, 2019
I love this book, it’s filled with lots of ways for kids to get creative and all the ideas come from the past and present Children’s Laureates. ‘Flights of Fancy’ is about A4 in size and is filled with thick matt pages of both text and images. It begins with an introduction into what the Children’s Laureate is and how it was set up, before moving onto ten different chapters, each written by one of the former Children’s Laureates.
The first chapter starts with the first Children’s Laureate, Quentin Blake and continues in order. Each author/illustrator talks briefly about what they did when they were the Laureate before giving kids some exciting ideas on how to get creative themselves. The ideas vary from playing the ‘shape game’ where you try to draw something using a shape you’ve been given, to how to write a poem using one word and morphing it into similar ones. Every idea is something new and different and many of them are things I’ve never come across and you feel you want to do many of the activities, just to see what your own imagination comes up with.
Every double page is filled with text and images. There is a picture of each Children’s Laureate and each page has a border, a different colour for each chapter. Along with some easy to read text, there are lots of different fonts used and some very colourful illustrations too. There’s something about the colourful and fun nature of this book that just makes you enjoy reading it and trying out the suggested activities.
Although this is aimed at children, I’ve had so much fun as an adult trying out the different activities that are suggested. You feel so free to experiment and see where your creativity takes you and it’s been brilliant for me personally as I lost a lot of my confidence in being creative since leaving school, so this book has been fun and inspirational for an adult as well as for kids!
The back of the book has more detail about each Children’s Laureate, and some funny illustrations to finish. Kids will really feel inspired to have fun with this book, and it’s a great activity book you can read again and again to get new ideas. I’d recommend this to all children (and even to all adults to try out), whether they feel like writing, drawing or not. It’s a great book and will open up their imaginations.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
The first chapter starts with the first Children’s Laureate, Quentin Blake and continues in order. Each author/illustrator talks briefly about what they did when they were the Laureate before giving kids some exciting ideas on how to get creative themselves. The ideas vary from playing the ‘shape game’ where you try to draw something using a shape you’ve been given, to how to write a poem using one word and morphing it into similar ones. Every idea is something new and different and many of them are things I’ve never come across and you feel you want to do many of the activities, just to see what your own imagination comes up with.
Every double page is filled with text and images. There is a picture of each Children’s Laureate and each page has a border, a different colour for each chapter. Along with some easy to read text, there are lots of different fonts used and some very colourful illustrations too. There’s something about the colourful and fun nature of this book that just makes you enjoy reading it and trying out the suggested activities.
Although this is aimed at children, I’ve had so much fun as an adult trying out the different activities that are suggested. You feel so free to experiment and see where your creativity takes you and it’s been brilliant for me personally as I lost a lot of my confidence in being creative since leaving school, so this book has been fun and inspirational for an adult as well as for kids!
The back of the book has more detail about each Children’s Laureate, and some funny illustrations to finish. Kids will really feel inspired to have fun with this book, and it’s a great activity book you can read again and again to get new ideas. I’d recommend this to all children (and even to all adults to try out), whether they feel like writing, drawing or not. It’s a great book and will open up their imaginations.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
September 17, 2021
I love this book, it's filled with lots of ways for kids to get creative and all the ideas come from the past and present Children's Laureates. 'Flights of Fancy' is about A4 in size and is filled with thick matt pages of both text and images. It begins with an introduction into what the Children's Laureate is and how it was set up, before moving onto ten different chapters, each written by one of the former Children's Laureates.
The first chapter starts with the first Children's Laureate, Quentin Blake and continues in order. Each author/illustrator talks briefly about what they did when they were the Laureate before giving kids some exciting ideas on how to get creative themselves. The ideas vary from playing the 'shape game' where you try to draw something using a shape you've been given, to how to write a poem using one word and morphing it into similar ones. Every idea is something new and different and many of them are things I've never come across and you feel you want to do many of the activities, just to see what your own imagination comes up with.
Every double page is filled with text and images. There is a picture of each Children's Laureate and each page has a border, a different colour for each chapter. Along with some easy to read text, there are lots of different fonts used and some very colourful illustrations too. There's something about the colourful and fun nature of this book that just makes you enjoy reading it and trying out the suggested activities.
Although this is aimed at children, I've had so much fun as an adult trying out the different activities that are suggested. You feel so free to experiment and see where your creativity takes you and it's been brilliant for me personally as I lost a lot of my confidence in being creative since leaving school, so this book has been fun and inspirational for an adult as well as for kids!
The back of the book has more detail about each Children's Laureate, and some funny illustrations to finish. Kids will really feel inspired to have fun with this book, and it's a great activity book you can read again and again to get new ideas. I'd recommend this to all children (and even to all adults to try out), whether they feel like writing, drawing or not. It's a great book and will open up their imaginations.
The first chapter starts with the first Children's Laureate, Quentin Blake and continues in order. Each author/illustrator talks briefly about what they did when they were the Laureate before giving kids some exciting ideas on how to get creative themselves. The ideas vary from playing the 'shape game' where you try to draw something using a shape you've been given, to how to write a poem using one word and morphing it into similar ones. Every idea is something new and different and many of them are things I've never come across and you feel you want to do many of the activities, just to see what your own imagination comes up with.
Every double page is filled with text and images. There is a picture of each Children's Laureate and each page has a border, a different colour for each chapter. Along with some easy to read text, there are lots of different fonts used and some very colourful illustrations too. There's something about the colourful and fun nature of this book that just makes you enjoy reading it and trying out the suggested activities.
Although this is aimed at children, I've had so much fun as an adult trying out the different activities that are suggested. You feel so free to experiment and see where your creativity takes you and it's been brilliant for me personally as I lost a lot of my confidence in being creative since leaving school, so this book has been fun and inspirational for an adult as well as for kids!
The back of the book has more detail about each Children's Laureate, and some funny illustrations to finish. Kids will really feel inspired to have fun with this book, and it's a great activity book you can read again and again to get new ideas. I'd recommend this to all children (and even to all adults to try out), whether they feel like writing, drawing or not. It's a great book and will open up their imaginations.
August 20, 2019
'Flights of Fancy: Creative Inspiration from Ten Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators' is a great help to aspiring authors, as it shows how writing can be both effortless and fun, while at the same time instilling the importance of hard work and dedication. There are challenges in the book that come in the form of interesting writing prompts which help readers try their hand at the same types of activities that each of the authors and illustrators has in their own arsenal to help them shine at their craft.
Sometimes a bit of advice and an understanding that one isn't alone in the world is all one needs to press on and make one's own magic. Each of the British Children's Laureates who have expressed themselves in this book have many impressive accomplishments. Their humble attitudes as they profess their own challenges throughout their lives in bringing their stories and ideas to life make the book all that much more special. It is easy to get caught up in the fame and excitement of being an author; however, their ability to present their thoughts to readers of all ages and make writing and illustrating seem attainable is a testament to the power of this book.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
Sometimes a bit of advice and an understanding that one isn't alone in the world is all one needs to press on and make one's own magic. Each of the British Children's Laureates who have expressed themselves in this book have many impressive accomplishments. Their humble attitudes as they profess their own challenges throughout their lives in bringing their stories and ideas to life make the book all that much more special. It is easy to get caught up in the fame and excitement of being an author; however, their ability to present their thoughts to readers of all ages and make writing and illustrating seem attainable is a testament to the power of this book.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
August 17, 2024
I wasn't quite finished before I was seized with a creative idea I had to explore. I was interested in the book because of my recent Lauren Child binge, and honestly, probably didn't notice the subtitle until this morning, when it was imperative to read it so as to return it to the library, today.
The various award-winning Children's Laureates offer very different takes on how to summon inspiration, all of which could be adapted to almost any brain-storming need.
So, very well done and also most effective. Also a good place for adults who never pick up picture books to dip a toe in.
Library copy
The various award-winning Children's Laureates offer very different takes on how to summon inspiration, all of which could be adapted to almost any brain-storming need.
So, very well done and also most effective. Also a good place for adults who never pick up picture books to dip a toe in.
Library copy
November 11, 2019
Ten British children's Laureates share their experience, creative ideas and some examples of those ideas in this thoroughly fascinating book. Some readers will become inspired, others intrigued, while still others will be pulled in and get lost in some of the examples of creativity. I particularly liked Michael Morpurgo's I believe in Unicorns, Jacqueline Wilson's girl on vacation diary, as well as Lauren Child's sharing of how she used multiple venues to get Clarice Bean just right. This is a satisfying mix of fun, inspiration and enthusiasm for the written word, love of reading and how many ways creativity can manifest itself. Surely a delightful book for both school and public libraries to own.
August 21, 2019
This is a gem of a book to have in every elementary classroom as well as the school library. Ten British award-winning authors and illustrators tell about their own creative processes. The narrative is written for children as its audience (an adult reading to children) and is very engaging. The writers also give examples of word and picture games children can use to practice or to get started writing. These exercises look like fun and would be great to try out in a writing workshop classroom. I will purchase this book for my library.
July 16, 2019
Ten UK Children’s Literature Laureates share their creative processes. Quentin Blake likes to try new art-making tools, like feathers. Chris Riddell is a big supporter of doodling and sketchbooks. Michael Rosen and Julia Donaldson have fun with wordplay. The book is meant for educators to use for inspiration and prompts, but any young artist or writer or reader can enjoy what these professionals offer in this brief book.
January 9, 2025
Flights of Fancy is a perfect book for readers and writers of all ages: The first ten children's laureates share their creative experiences, stories, writing and drawing tips and ideas.
Michael Morpurgo's story is about a unicorn lady librarian telling stories, saving all the books they could, & waiting for a rebuilt new library. "I am a writer now, a weaver of tales. I believe in unicorns," the author tells us.
Michael Morpurgo's story is about a unicorn lady librarian telling stories, saving all the books they could, & waiting for a rebuilt new library. "I am a writer now, a weaver of tales. I believe in unicorns," the author tells us.
August 20, 2019
A simply delightful anthology providing inspiration for young writers from ten Children's Laureates from the UK. It includes insights from well known authors such as Michael Morpurgo, Julia Donaldson and Lauren Child and talented illustrators such as Anthony Browne and Quentin Blake. This will surely prove to be a wonderful resource for teachers to draw on in their writing classrooms.
July 5, 2019
Inspired idea. Beautifully executed. A book to entice children to write (and read) with suggestions from a few of Britain's author laureates. Sure to capture the imagination of kids of all ages. It did mine.
August 15, 2019
It's a sweet collection from Britain's Children's Laureates and their work, but maybe not much practical inspiration.
November 1, 2019
Oh Anne Fine. How am I only learning of you now?
Gorgeous, creative, and inspiring book!
Gorgeous, creative, and inspiring book!
April 26, 2020
Thought it would have been better
November 5, 2021
Wonderful illustrations by top children's book artists, plus stories and suggestions for using their inspirational tools. Great for parents, teachers, kids, artists.
December 22, 2021
Nice collection!
September 29, 2024
Great for young budding writers or illustrators, but I listened to the audio so the parts about illustration didn't translate so well.
June 24, 2021
What a wonderful collection of short stories, poetry, prompts and more from some hugely popular and loved authors of children’s literature coming together to encourage and help children with there own story making and ideas, such a fantastic idea and one that children I’m sure will love to read/and or listen to, I listen to the audiobook and would highly recommend 💕💕
April 9, 2019
I am drawn to books that inspire us to be more creative and that goes double for books that inspire children to be more creative. Here in this collection of well-known authors and illustrators is a wealth of stories of their creation process, how they see the world and how they see it differently sometimes than everyone else. Adults and kids can gain useful insight as well as ways to help their own imagination take flight.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews