Cosmo has never seen his dad, and when his mum says he 'went away', Cosmo wants to know how. 'On a magic carpet,' is her slightly wry answer, and after that Cosmo's imagination makes him into 'Magic Dad' who can do anything.. The mundane problems in their everyday life - the car that won't start, the washing machine that packs up - are seen to by Mr. Burton across the road, who soon becomes closer to Cosmo's mum. This is all unnoticed by Cosmo, still wrapped in his world with Magic Dad. The two worlds begin to fuse when Cosmo realises the advantages of having an ordinary dad. Well paced, imaginative and down-to-earth. A short read with good black and white illustrations.