Weslandia by Paul Fleischman

A gloriously illustrated celebration of individualism from an award-winning author. Wesley's an outcast from the civilization around him - he's not into pizza or football or haircuts. But during the summer holidays, he has a brilliant idea: he'll found a civilization of his own - in the back garden! From this seed a whole world grows and blooms - the extraordinary, imaginative world of Weslandia! Wesley creates his own food, clothing, shelter, games, language even, and gradually wins over the other children.