Lost in the Imagination: A Journey Through Nine Worlds in Nine Nights

by Hiawyn Oram, David Wyatt (Illustrator)

Take a trip into the fantastical world of the imagination in this lavishly illustrated gift book.

Enter the elaborate "found" notebooks of the formerly fact-bound professor Dawn Gable and follow her on nine nightly journeys to extraordinary worlds. From King Arthur's Round Table at Camelot to the majestic hall of slain heroes in Asgard, visit marvelous lands from myth, legend, and fairy tale. Intricate vistas and diagrams usher readers into a city of intelligent machines, the ancient African city of Kor, the miniature world of Lilliput, the flying island of Laputa, a mountainous home of mythical beasts, the primeval island of Buyan, the island of Atlantis, Captain Nemo's Nautilus, and more. A mesmerizing gift for anyone who believes in the transformative power of stories, this is a book that readers will pore over again and again.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Picture Books, Childrens, Middle Grade

48 pages, Hardcover

Published October 13, 2020

About the author

Hiawyn Oram is a very successful author of children's books in Britain. Her books include the popular Not-So-Grizzly Bear Stories, the Animal Heroes series, and Mona the Vampire. She lives in London.

Reviews

[jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

“imagination is the only guide to discovery and a great companion to anyone stuck in a rut.”

professor dawn gable, a theoretical physicist, lives alone as a guilt-ridden recluse. she’s having trouble finding inspiration in her day-to-day life, until her brother’s kids show up and give her a book: lost in the imagination.

she initially discards it, but can’t help be drawn by it; what eventually follows is a journey to nine different imaginary worlds in nine nights, in which the professor is aided by hyllvar, a sarcastic ancient dragon (who i, of course, loved).

presentation is everything, and this book is gorgeous. as a researcher, the professor meticulously records her journeys to the nine worlds with schematics, drawings, maps, and parts of her own journal -- her findings are presented to the reader in big, colorful spreads with beautiful illustrations.

really, hats off to illustrator david wyatt and the people who worked on the layout designs. the book just sparkles and comes alive; i wanted to leave it open on my dinner table and just stare at it a bit every time i walked by. the images are inspiring in and of themselves.

that said, the writing could’ve been better; it’s very on the nose, even for a children’s book, and is definitely overshadowed by the impact of the illustrations. it also seems especially harsh and negative towards the sciences -- such as the professor choosing to live a life based on “cold reasoning and hard facts” rather than opening herself up to imagination.

luckily, this is circumvented when you find out that the professor caused her brother to suffer injuries in an accident, and thus pulled away from life entirely, trying to find solace only in her research. so just an unhealthy coping style, but i’m not sure if all the kids reading this will pick up on that nuance.

one of my best friends gifted me this book because she knows how much of a sucker i am for the Concept of Stories in our society, and how they shape so much of our way of life. i know i would’ve loved this book back when i was eight or nine years old, but i also really enjoyed immersing myself in it today.

✎ 3.5 stars.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for something different for the fantasy lover on your list, look no further than this beautifully executed book. The conceit is that it is the notebook of a fictional theoretical physicist named Dr. Dawn Gable after she had visited nine imaginary worlds in nine nights. She did this with the help of Hyllvar, a dragon descended from ancient Norse dragons, and his flying machine. The first world they visited was the lost city of Kôr. But when Dr. Gable protested that they could not be there, Hyllvar merely said "Be curious. Curiosity will take you further than you can dream." And it does, including Camelot (my favorite), Lilliput, Atlantis, and four more worlds. Each world has illustrations showing what they look like, the animals and beasts that inhabit them along with vegetation and other interesting bits. It isn't a book that goes into great detail, but it will inspire readers to seek out more imaginative worlds and perhaps develop a love of fantasy and science fiction if they don't already. Diehard fans of fantasy will no doubt appreciate having this lovely book as part of their library. I'm giving a copy of this book to a 10-year-old fan who has coveted my review copy since it arrived. Oh, yes, there's a coded message in the books edges. Can you decode it? Hint: read Dawn's introductory letter.

[Cicero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this large-sized picture books a 5 because of the artwork and imagination that has gone into its construction. It took my breath away and the real world receded when I first opened it up. The author and illustrator created 9 worlds that the main character experiences over the course of nine nights. Sort of like a Christmas Carol format. I can't say it better than the initial write up when it states that this book is "for anyone who believes in the transformative power of stories ... a book that readers will pour over again and again."

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

With glistening silver images over an enhanced midnight blue cover, this is a handsome book. A note to the reader sets up the premise: the publisher was given the writings of a deceased theoretical physicist, Dawn Gable, which document her travels through nine fantastical worlds. Gable is visited by a dragon named Hyllvar who comes from a magical book given to her by her brother. The dragon takes her on visits to magical lands, and despite not believing in anything not concretely explained by science, she becomes obsessed with documenting her journeys. Hyllvar takes her to cities dreamed up by the author, as well as to Camelot, Atlantis and other mythical destinations. Gable provides illustrations, observations of flora and fauna, maps and her musings on these mythical places. The book is similar to Candlewick’s Dragonology and Monsterology and others of that ilk, but without the movable book components. Wyatt’s illustrations are lush and beautiful. Kids drawn to mythical adventures may enjoy this as an introduction to the tales of the places shown.

The target audience for this book may be disappointed that there are no movable parts. The story of an adult making these journeys may not resonate as much with youngsters.

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first graphic adventure puzzle video games I ever played was Myst. The object of the game was to solve puzzles and travel to four worlds. This book has the feel of this adventure. I love the notebook style of information taking and the illustrative details of the 9 worlds will offer hours of free creative exploration into the fantastical worlds. This book is mystical and magical and is an open ended invitation to dream big (or small if you happen to be in Lilliput, the miniature world). This is the perfect gift for anyone who is willing to look beyond the physical world and instead dig deep into their imagination. Dream worlds come to life in this book which will inspire creativity leading to hours of imaginative play. A picture book aimed at the older child (and what adult isn’t an “older child” in disguise?) is a magical offering to help keep their inner child alive.

[Travis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I encountered this book first at a used book store; it look pretty but I had my doubts, so was happy to find that my library system had it. My initial impressions proved correct. The art is beautiful, especially the various sketches, but the story (such as it is) is incredibly lackluster and leans heavily on tired old tropes of science as a bastion of cold intellectualism that is opposed to imagination and wonder. And the choice of the "worlds" visited in the story seem incredibly arbitrary: two are from Gulliver's Travels, two more seem like generic inventions of the author (though I could be missing the references), and one is the lost city from an old pulp novel (H. Rider Haggard's She).

[Teresa Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of a person who was stuck in a rut - and then by chance their brother gives them a magical book and a journey begins. They travel to 9 different worlds. The places are familiar - taken from different cultures and stories. It reminded me of Gulliver's Travels (one land is taken from that story). The illustrations are beautiful and detailed - so stunning! The story is interesting and the main characters show growth as they realize the power of creativity. The font is a little small, despite the size of the book. Other than that, the book is very enjoyable and recommended for those who want to spark their imagination. (review by Jen, 1st grade teacher)

[Eleah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only thing going for it is the illustrations. David Wyatt does a wonderful job in that regard. The story is very wholesome and cute, learning to embrace your imagination is something children should be encouraged to do.
As an adult looking at the book, it is a bit lacklustre but from a kid's perspective, I'm sure they would love it. It is very reminiscent of the -ology books, but not nearly as good, I'd go for them over this.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed this. an interesting look at some famous fictional realms (and… robot city?). if you’re older than the target demographic then it might be one to inspire follow up research. not the best piece of standalone fiction but enjoyable

[R. J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked more about each world. It seems like she was only in each world for a couple minutes at best. I don't see how that could have been so life-changing.

[Rieley M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about the importance of imagination and wonder. Great book for kids.

[Carlos Esperon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this for anyone you love that loves storytelling! Regardless of age!!!

[Lilli Rorvik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute quick read with the kids, a journey through 9 fantasy worlds, beautiful illustrations and a lovely moral of the story as well. Highly recommend!

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully produced and lavish book that presents scientific papers, diagrams and drawings, diary notes, maps, and fantasy illustrations across double page spreads - four for each land. The complexity of design and detailed information does not easily fit within an age category as the book would engage a wide audience.

Presented as an original journal, the publisher introduces its history to establish a pretense of authenticity to tell the story of the famed theoretical physicist Professor Dawn Gable and the journeys prompted by her encounter with a mythical dragon named Hyllvar. Over nine nights, the dragon and the professor visit nine fantastical worlds that defy logic and reason. These include the well-known literary of Lilliput and Camelot; the mythical realms of Atlantis and Valhalla; along with imaginative settings such as the lost African city of Kôr, Mecanopolis, the city of machines and the Dimskye Mountains, are are

The book has endless possibilities and multiple pathways to delight, engage and and enthrall the reader.