Hopes and dreams

The Rooftop Rocket Party. Written and illustrated by Roland Chambers. (Andersen Press, 9.99)

Set in New York, this tale is about a boy who is so inspired by the dreams of an armchair rocket scientist he knows, that he makes them come true.

It's wonderfully imaginative and downright believable at the same time. We only find out for sure that the scientist hasn't built any of his own rockets when we see him lounging in a comfy chair reading a book called Domestic Rocket Science.

Finn, the boy, feels misled. His anger causes the Night Thing to come, who tells him that water towers atop the tall buildings in New York are actually rockets. Finn takes a trip in one and arrives on the Moon in time for a party. After enjoying himself he returns to Earth and snoozes through the drama of the morning. The armchair scientist has discovered that the water tower, or rocket (depending on where your allegiances lie), is bang in the middle of the pavement rather than on the roof of their apartment block. This is causing a major obstruction as well as depriving them of water.