Jenny McLachlan

Jenny McLachlan writes funny, accessible books that children love. She’s currently writing the third book in the popular Land of Roar series.
Author photo 2 Jenny McLachlan 2018 smile closer

What was your favourite childhood book and why?

My favourite childhood book was written by Tove Jansson and it’s called Moominsummer Madness. The Moomin books are set in a fantasy world where the most amazing things happen. In this book their valley floods and they have to abandon their home and live on a floating theatre . . . that’s haunted. The Moomin books feel like the best dreams you could possibly have, come to life.

Which of your own books is your favourite and why?

I would choose The Land of Roar because it’s made lots of children happy. I wrote it because I wanted to take children on a wild adventure where they could jump down waterfalls, swim with merfolk, hang out with ninja-wizards and be the heroes of their own story. If you’d like to find out what it’s like to fly a dragon and defeat a wicked scarecrow, you should definitely give it a go!

Why do you choose to read? 

I think reading is like magic. Because of books, I’ve visited alien colonies, met Cleopatra and argued with Henry VII; I’ve escaped from zombies and found out what it’s like to be a bee. No matter what has happened during the day, or how grumpy I feel, when I pick up a book I escape to another world. It’s a brilliant feeling, but if reading doesn’t feel like this for you, don’t give up. It can take a while to find that first, magical book . . . and when you do . . . WOW!

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