Slightly Invisible, Lauren Child's new Charlie and Lola adventure

"I have this little sister Lola," the book begins, "She is small and very funny. She always wants to know what I am up to and she always wants to do what I am doing. She NEVER wants to be anywhere without me." Photograph: PR

Charlie and his friend Marv want to be off on their own, looking for "strange and tricky creatures", but Lola wants to play too, and keeps popping up at the critical moment ... Photograph: PR

... until eventually Charlie explains that they need to be left alone in order to invent the invisibility potion that will aid them in their quest. Photograph: PR

While the potion is brewing in the fridge, Charlie and Marv circumnavigate the world a couple of times before returning home for "a snack" ... Photograph: PR

... whereupon they discover that Lola's invisible friend, Soren Lorenson, has drunk the lot. Fortunately, Lola is on hand to suggest an alternative plan, involving a rabbit, pink milk and the cooperation of Soren himself Photograph: PR

... the trio debate the metaphysics of invisibility, until they hear something coming ... Photograph: PR

"AND THEN THERE HE IS, the most strange and terrifyingly tricky creature in the universe", about to gobble them up. Fortunately, he turns out to leporiphobic ... Photograph: PR

... and thus easily tamed. By the final page, everyone is sitting down at the table to drink their pink milk together Photograph: PR

A Manchester Art Gallery Touring exhibition exhibition entitled Green Drops and Moonsquirters: The Utterly Imaginative World of Lauren Child, and supported by the Arts Council England, Hodder, Orchard and Puffin, is running at the Discover Children's Story Centre in London from now until April 2011.

Discover Children's Story Centre, 383-387 High Street, Stratford, London, E15 4QZ 020 8536 5555 Photograph: PR