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Michael Rosen is a hugely bestselling author of picture books and poetry. Michael frequently appears on radio and gives talks and lectures on children’s literature. Michael was the Children’s Laureate for 2007–2009 and the winner of the Eleanor Farjeon Award. He lives in London.
Michael Rosen on Michael Rosen:
I grew up in the London suburb of Pinner, a place my parents often wondered about. How had we landed there? My parents were teachers, politically committed (socialists), and great storytellers and readers. I was lucky to have found them.
Most of my adult life, I've been a freelance writer, teacher (of sorts), journalist, performer and broadcaster. I visit schools doing my one-man show, and support Arsenal Football Club.
I have often written about my life and family, but I also write occasional fantasy (usually based in a real place) and non-fiction.
Things you didn't know about Michael Rosen
I wear size 12 shoes.
I like speaking French.
I'm an atheist.
I love mobile phones.
I love houmous.
I can't live without green warty pickled gherkins.
I hate racism.
My father was American.
I can slide my top lip one way and my bottom lip the other.
I can play the harmonica.
Photo credit Laurence Cendroicz
Adapted from the original poem in the wonderful first poetry anthology A Great Big Cuddle that Michael Rosen says, in his Note to Grown- ups, was inspired by watching his youngest child getting angry, this captures perfectly the all-consuming feeling of being at the epicentre of a toddler tantrum. Robert Starling’s glorious illustrations and the bold design perfectly compliment the brilliant rhymes. I have never seen a fiercer or more grumpy kitten! It is all about the eyes which glare furiously from the front cover and on the opening red endpapers. Hugely expressive eyes and body language also characterise the other animals that bear the brunt of kitten’s fury. The scared spider is a particular delight. White space and bold colour are used to great effect throughout and just as kitten is busy painting the sky read and filling the page… its all over and a tired little kitten snuggles his faithful little friend and goes to sleep and the final pale blue endpapers show sleeping eyes! This will reassure toddlers overwhelmed by their feelings that it does not last for ever and they are loved and safe. Very young children will really be able to engage with this valuable message and will enjoy the rhythmic and imaginative language and be entranced by the bold images. This is a perfect pairing of author and illustrator and I am already looking forward to I Am Hungry!
Shortlisted for the CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award) 2021 | On the Move is both personal and universal, with messages of home, identity and family. The CLiPPA judges found it full of emotion, delivered with a perfect sense of understatement; they praised the way words and illustrations provide pauses, allowing readers space to think.
12-year-old striker Macbeth has a promising talent on the field. He also has a burning desire to become captain of Shotfield football team, and he is prepared to do whatever it takes. Macbeth's hard-hearted mother also pushes him to succeed - getting ahead to get spotted by academy scouts, even if it means dirty tricks. So when the whistle blows for the big game, fair is foul and fouls are definitely fair!
Interest Age 5-8 | March 2020 Book of the Month | Clever children who use their wits to get the better of much more powerful adversaries star in this duo of stories by the one and only Michael Rosen. Masha escapes a big and thoroughly bad bear in a particularly delicious way, while little Peggy outsmarts her admittedly rather stupid king to win big. Rosen’s lively, direct style make these stories wonderfully accessible for those growing in reading confidence, and Ashley King’s full colour illustrations add to the appeal of this little gem of a book.
Shortlisted for the UKLA Book Awards 2021 | A personal, powerful and resonant account of the Holocaust by one of this country's best-loved children's authors. By turns charming, shocking and heart-breaking, this is the true story of Michael Rosen's search for his relatives who went missing during the Second World War - told through prose, poetry, maps and pictures.
Uncle Gobb is back for a third utterly ridiculous, absolutely hilarious and totally originally told adventure. Michael Rosen and Neal Layton use a brilliant integration of words and pictures to tell this meandering and many-layered story which engages readers with the complexity and creativity of storytelling.
A bestselling title which well-deserves its classic status. It has become the staple of pre-school life across the globe. Told in a simple rhythmic text that's full of action and it is matched by Helen Oxenbury’s wonderful illustrations which perfectly capture the fun and the wide range of emotions of the family day out that the story encompasses. The perfect present for all fans of the much-loved family favourite, this lavish 30th anniversary facsimile edition of We're Going on a Bear Hunt comes with a unique signed limited edition print.
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month January 2019 | | This is the 30th anniversary board book edition of this bestselling title which well-deserves its classic status. It has become the staple of pre-school life across the globe. Told in a simple rhythmic text that's full of action and it is matched by Helen Oxenbury’s wonderful illustrations which perfectly capture the fun and the wide range of emotions of the family day out that the story encompasses. Celebrating 30 years of Bear Hunting - visit www.jointhebearhunt.com for everything a bear hunter could need including activities, videos, competitions and tour dates. The book has sold in nearly 30 countries and in over 20 languages.
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month November 2018 | Everyone who has ever had a pet will love this funny and charming story about a little boy and the hamster he gets for Christmas. Leo needs cheering up and, with Christmas coming, he takes the opportunity to ask for the one thing that he thinks will make him happy: a pet hamster. Luckily, Dad has Father Christmas’s number on his phone so Leo can order it direct – and get some help from spell-check! But when the hamster comes Leo can see that his new pet is not altogether happy. Hampstead the Hamster needs a present too!
Shortlisted for the CLPE Children’s Poetry Award (CLiPPA) 2017 A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month September 2018 | | Michael Rosen is the bestselling author of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, along with many other picture books and collections of poetry. Packed with silly rhymes, witty wordplay and thought-provoking story poems, this new collection of poems will delight children of all ages.
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month October 2018 | | Uncle Gobb is back for a third utterly ridiculous, absolutely hilarious and totally originally told adventure. Michael Rosen and Neal Layton use a brilliant integration of words and pictures to tell this meandering and many-layered story which engages readers with the complexity and creativity of storytelling.
Featuring a selection of rhymes for the very young adapted from Michael Rosen and Chris Riddell’s award-winning A Great Big Cuddle, Wiggly Wiggly is a tour de force of catchy rhythms and bouncy beats, cheerful pictures and cheeky characters. Each of the nine rhymes are made to be read aloud, made to encourage the very littlest to join in with the sounds, the words, the actions (wriggling, bouncing, sloshing, finger walking). The verses will hold their appeal no matter how many times you have to read them (hundreds), while the draughtsmanship and vitality of Chris Riddell’s illustrations takes the breath away with each turn of the page. They’re never too young for poetry and this is an absolute nursery must-have.
When I was a boy, I had a favourite treat. It was when my mum made . . . CHOCOLATE CAKE! Ohhh! I LOVED chocolate cake. Brought to life as a picture book for the first time with brilliant and characterful illustrations by Kevin Waldron.
In a nutshell: Really? An Uncle Gobb story in a nutshell? You’re having a laugh | Malcolm, his best friend Crackersnacker and Malcolm’s awful homework-obsessed, bean counting (unless it’s literal bean counting – see page 1) Uncle Gobb of Gobb Education are back for another helping of riotous adventure that sends all three on a trip to the United States. Packed with humour and word play that delights in turning logic, literalism and much of the story line on its head this will have readers in hysterics. Neal Layton’s smudgy energetic illustrations match the zany anarchy of Michael Rosen’s story brilliantly. ~ Andrea Reece
Discover the weird and wonderful world of martians, woolly saucepans and centrally heated knickers in 100 poems about science and technology from the delightfully irreverent, Michael Rosen.
This classic picture book is such a triumph of words and illustration, as satisfying to look at as it is to read aloud, that it hardly needs an extra gimmick, but snow globes are irresistible and there’s something particularly pleasing about shaking the snowflakes around in this special gift edition, especially when reading about the swirling, whirling snowstorm, “Hoooo woooo! “Hoooo woooo!” It will be fun to share this with children and it’s a book that everyone should own. ~ Andrea Reece *** Last Christmas Channel 4 showed an animated TV adaptation of We're Going on a Bear Hunt. Find out more here! Michael Rosen said: “I am absolutely delighted that Channel 4 has commissioned this animation. Lupus have a great record in this field and I am very excited to be part of the project. Helen Oxenbury's wonderful art work provides a powerful family saga, full of imagined or real trials and these pictures will give a basis for a moving Christmas drama.” Helen Oxenbury said: "I'm so looking forward to seeing the book brought to life in this way. It's a wonderful opportunity to bring We're Going on a Bear Hunt to even more children and I'm thrilled to be part of it." Jay Hunt, Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer, said: “Going on a Bear Hunt is a magical book that will be brought alive for a whole new audience by Lupus Films. I can’t wait.”
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Joint Winner of the CLiPPA 2016 (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award). | Children’s Laureates Chris Riddell and Michael Rosen combine here to create a beautiful collection of ebullient poems for the very young. Michael Rosen’s close and affectionate observation of small children and the way they think is brilliantly captured in poems such as You Can’t See Me and Let Me Do It. There are also plenty of opportunities for the very young to join in with poems such as Tippy-Tappy and The Button Bop which they are guaranteed to want to hear again and again! Chris Riddell’s illustrations created an equally warm-hearted view of the early years and capture the spirit of the poems perfectly.
In a nutshell: Really? An Uncle Gobb story in a nutshell? You’re having a laugh | Malcolm, his best friend Crackersnacker and Malcolm’s awful homework-obsessed, bean counting (unless it’s literal bean counting – see page 1) Uncle Gobb of Gobb Education are back for another helping of riotous adventure that sends all three on a trip to the United States. Packed with humour and word play that delights in turning logic, literalism and much of the story line on its head this will have readers in hysterics. Neal Layton’s smudgy energetic illustrations match the zany anarchy of Michael Rosen’s story brilliantly. ~ Andrea Reece
With her cheery, distinctive voice and passion for bagels, little dog Shnipp is a very jolly character and certain to be a real favourite with young readers. Running away one day on impulse she’s taken in by Bessie the Bagel Lady; then, when the foxes tell her just how much she’s missed by her owners, she decides just as impulsively to run back home. The story bowls along as merrily as Shnipp at full stretch, full of humour and sprinkled with black and white illustrations by Tony Ross. Great fun for solo reading and for sharing at bedtime too. ~ Andrea Reece
A detailed and very personal guide to reading and writing poetry by one of the country's leading children's poets. Lovereading Review will follow...
A signed, limited edition of the classic chant-aloud by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. The perfect gift for brave hunters and bear-lovers everywhere! Fantastic, cumulative adventure as a family cheerfully sets out on a brave hunt to find the bear - and this new edition has interactive sound! It could be frightening but they’re not scared. They’re full of confidence in what they are doing. Caves, mud, rivers, forest … whatever obstacles the family encounters, they resolutely overcome them happily repeating the chorus:“We can’t go over it”, “We can’t go under it”, “Oh no! We’ve got to go through it”.But when they find the bear its’ a lot more scary than they had thought and they hurtle home repeating all the noises as they go. ~ Julia Eccleshare *** The animation created by Walker Productions and Lupus Films aired at Christmas 2016 on Channel 4 was viewed by over 6 million people, and is now available on DVD from Universal. Michael Rosen says: “I am absolutely delighted that Channel 4 has commissioned this animation. Lupus have a great record in this field and I am very excited to be part of the project. Helen Oxenbury's wonderful art work provides a powerful family saga, full of imagined or real trials and these pictures will give a basis for a moving Christmas drama.” Helen Oxenbury says: "I'm so looking forward to seeing the book brought to life in this way. It's a wonderful opportunity to bring We're Going on a Bear Hunt to even more children and I'm thrilled to be part of it." Jay Hunt, Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer, says: “Going on a Bear Hunt is a magical book that will be brought alive for a whole new audience by Lupus Films. I can’t wait.”
Shortlisted for the CLPE Children’s Poetry Award (CLiPPA) 2017 Packed with silly rhymes, witty wordplay and thought-provoking story poems, this new collection of poems will delight children of all ages.
Join in the bear hunt with this fabulous activity book, based on the classic picture book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Little ones will be absorbed for hours with this fun book filled with engaging activities. *** This Christmas Channel 4 will show an animated TV adaptation of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, to be broadcast on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Michael Rosen says: “I am absolutely delighted that Channel 4 has commissioned this animation. Lupus have a great record in this field and I am very excited to be part of the project. Helen Oxenbury's wonderful art work provides a powerful family saga, full of imagined or real trials and these pictures will give a basis for a moving Christmas drama.” Helen Oxenbury says: "I'm so looking forward to seeing the book brought to life in this way. It's a wonderful opportunity to bring We're Going on a Bear Hunt to even more children and I'm thrilled to be part of it." Jay Hunt, Channel 4 Chief Creative Officer, says: “Going on a Bear Hunt is a magical book that will be brought alive for a whole new audience by Lupus Films. I can’t wait.”
Malcom’s Uncle Gobb is really irritating, and not just because he keeps shouting ‘the boy needs to do more homework’. When Gobb Education starts taking over their school, and Uncle Gobb sets up the dread ‘Dread Shed’ in their playground, Malcolm and his best friend Crackersnacker decide they’ve got to get rid him. Children will love seeing Malcolm bamboozle and confuzle Uncle Gobb to a standstill with entirely logical but unanswerable questions and Neal Layton’s scratchy illustrations brilliantly match the riotous tone. Great fun for children, who will recognise the absurdities Malcolm faces daily, less enjoyable reading perhaps for any secretaries of state for education. ~ Andrea Reece One of our Books of the Year 2015 Click here to download an activity pack for Uncle Gobb and the Dread Shed.
Shakespeare’s writing was extraordinary four hundred years ago, and it’s still extraordinary today says Michael Rosen in this splendid and inspiring introduction to the bard. Rosen demonstrates to young people just why Shakespeare is still acted, read and quoted today and how his work still shapes our language and culture. His enthusiasm is irresistible. Taking examples from Romeo and Juliet he shows how relevant the play still is to young people and explains – clearly and succinctly – how the action, characters and dramatic tension still affect modern audiences. There’s also fascinating information about Shakespeare’s life, times and schooling and about the first Globe Theatre, and this is one of the very best books to introduce children to Shakespeare. ~ Andrea Reece
Shakespeare’s writing was extraordinary four hundred years ago, and it’s still extraordinary today says Michael Rosen in this splendid and inspiring introduction to the bard. Rosen demonstrates to young people just why Shakespeare is still acted, read and quoted today and how his work still shapes our language and culture. His enthusiasm is irresistible. Taking examples from Romeo and Juliet he shows how relevant the play still is to young people and explains – clearly and succinctly – how the action, characters and dramatic tension still affect modern audiences. There’s also fascinating information about Shakespeare’s life, times and schooling and about the first Globe Theatre, and this is one of the very best books to introduce children to Shakespeare. ~ Andrea Reece
Former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen will delight all readers with this hugely enjoyable and easy to chant rhyming picture book. Riding a bike, going far in a car or, when it starts to rain going in the train are all fun. So too are the more imaginative thoughts of riding on a fish, sitting on a cloud or flying to the moon in a hot-air balloon. But, best of all is the bus! Just because - ‘the bus is for us!’ ~ Julia Eccleshare
You’re never too young for the brilliance of a book such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Walker Books have taken Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury’s classic picture book and condensed it into a chunky board book. The illustrations sparkle in miniature and there are lots of opportunities for joining in – splish splash through the river, squelch squerch through the oozy mud, hoo woo through the whirling snowstorm. A handy strap and clip enable you to attach this sturdy little book to a buggy or carrier and take it out on bear hunts of your own! ~ Andrea Reece You might also like We're Going on a Bear Hunt Colouring Book and We're Going on a Bear Hunt Sticker Activitiy Book!
A Dyslexia Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child It’s hard to know who will laugh more at this new picture book, children or their parents! Any adult who has undergone a long car journey with kids will be familiar with the phrase ‘I can’t drive properly if you two are going mad in the back’! Michael Rosen and Richard Watson describe just such a journey, and make it really funny. Mum’s frustration and irritation grows as the two in the back bicker, fight and make endless demands for drinks, until she eventually explodes! Sounds familiar? The pictures are hilarious and it’s brilliant for reading out loud too. Read and enjoy in the comfort of your home, not on the road. ~ Andrea Reece Publisher Barrington Stoke was inspired to create the Picture Squirrel Books titles after meeting a man with dyslexia at a book event. “We were approached by a gentleman who told us that it broke his heart that he couldn’t read to his child because of his dyslexia,” M.D. Mairi Kidd told The Bookseller. “So we talked to Michael Morpurgo, who we were already working with on low text books [textbooks that use a limited number of words]." The layout of picture books can be difficult for adults with dyslexia as the language and typeface are often very varied, the text can be cut into small chunks or is sometimes spun around a picture, which can make a book tricky if you don’t have good reading skills. Barrington Stoke worked with the authors and illustrators to ensure that the books are suitable for dyslexic readers and thereby helping more families grow a love of reading. On the Picture Squirrels...Michael Morpurgo says: “I was immediately taken with the idea of the Picture Squirrel books, a picture book list that dyslexic parents and less confident readers can read with theirchildren too.”
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2017 | Joint Winner of the CLiPPA 2016 (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award). | Children’s Laureates Chris Riddell and Michael Rosen combine here to create a beautiful collection of ebullient poems for the very young. Michael Rosen’s close and affectionate observation of small children and the way they think is brilliantly captured in poems such as You Can’t See Me and Let Me Do It. There are also plenty of opportunities for the very young to join in with poems such as Tippy-Tappy and The Button Bop which they are guaranteed to want to hear again and again! Chris Riddell’s illustrations created an equally warm-hearted view of the early years and capture the spirit of the poems perfectly. One of our Books of the Year 2015 - A Reader Review Panel Pick of the Year 2015 - chosen by Robyn Chorely, aged 5- Julia Eccleshare's Book of the Month, September 2015
One of our Books of the Year 2015 - June 2015 Book of the Month Malcom’s Uncle Gobb is really irritating, and not just because he keeps shouting ‘the boy needs to do more homework’. When Gobb Education starts taking over their school, and Uncle Gobb sets up the dread ‘Dread Shed’ in their playground, Malcolm and his best friend Crackersnacker decide they’ve got to get rid him. Children will love seeing Malcolm bamboozle and confuzle Uncle Gobb to a standstill with entirely logical but unanswerable questions and Neal Layton’s scratchy illustrations brilliantly match the riotous tone. Great fun for children, who will recognise the absurdities Malcolm faces daily, less enjoyable reading perhaps for any secretaries of state for education. ~ Andrea Reece Click here to download an activity pack for Uncle Gobb and the Dread Shed.
Colour in the bear hunt with this wonderful colouring activity book, based on the classic picture book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Helen Oxenbury's beautiful illustrations are as enchanting here as in the beloved original, and Michael Rosen's brilliantly rhythmic words provide the inspiration for every exciting activity. You might also like We're Going on a Bear Hunt Sticker Activitiy Book!
Join in the bear hunt with this fabulous sticker activity book, based on the classic picture book by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Little ones will be absorbed for hours with this sticker book filled with engaging activities. You might also like We're Going on a Bear Hunt Colouring Book!
May 2015 Book of the Month This tale of the busy Hurrys may well strike a chord with families everywhere. Mr and Mrs Hurry are always rushing, but especially in the mornings. One day they dash off to their respective jobs in such a hurry that neither notices they’ve left their son Harry at home. What will he do? He’s too small to go to school on his own, and too small to stay at home on his own either. Fortunately, Tiggs the cat realises what’s happened. Family life is exaggerated to great comic effect, and children will love the idea of Tiggs taking control. A funny, satisfying story for emerging readers. ~ Andrea Reece
Former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen will delight all readers with this hugely enjoyable and easy to chant rhyming picture book. Riding a bike, going far in a car or, when it starts to rain going in the train are all fun. So too are the more imaginative thoughts of riding on a fish, sitting on a cloud or flying to the moon in a hot-air balloon. But, best of all is the bus! Just because - ‘the bus is for us!’ ~ Julia Eccleshare
One of our Books of the Year 2014 Fantastic, cumulative adventure as a family cheerfully sets out on a brave hunt to find the bear - and this new edition has interactive sound! It could be frightening but they’re not scared. They’re full of confidence in what they are doing. Caves, mud, rivers, forest … whatever obstacles the family encounters, they resolutely overcome them happily repeating the chorus:“We can’t go over it”, “We can’t go under it”, “Oh no! We’ve got to go through it”.But when they find the bear its’ a lot more scary than they had thought and they hurtle home repeating all the noises as they go. ~ Julia Eccleshare There is a new website celebrating 25 years Bear Hunting - visit www.jointhebearhunt.com for everything a bear hunter could need including activities, videos, competitions and tour dates. The book has sold in nearly 30 countries and in over 20 languages.
A Dyslexia Friendly Picture Book for Parent and Child Best-selling Michael Rosen teams up with the brilliant illustrator Chris Mould in this scary story with a witty twist. Wolf Man is on the loose. He is ripping up paving stones and biting huge chunks out of trees. He is terrorising everyone – even the chief of police. Wolf Man goes right up to the Police Chief’s front door. What will happen when he opens it? Publisher Barrington Stoke was inspired to create the Picture Squirrel Books titles after meeting a man with dyslexia at a book event. “We were approached by a gentleman who told us that it broke his heart that he couldn’t read to his child because of his dyslexia,” M.D. Mairi Kidd told The Bookseller. “So we talked to Michael Morpurgo, who we were already working with on low text books [textbooks that use a limited number of words]." The layout of picture books can be difficult for adults with dyslexia as the language and typeface are often very varied, the text can be cut into small chunks or is sometimes spun around a picture, which can make a book tricky if you don’t have good reading skills. Barrington Stoke worked with the authors and illustrators to ensure that the books are suitable for dyslexic readers and thereby helping more families grow a love of reading. On the Picture Squirrels...Michael Morpurgo says: “I was immediately taken with the idea of the Picture Squirrel books, a picture book list that dyslexic parents and less confident readers can read with theirchildren too.”
January 2014 Book of the Month Best-selling Michael Rosen captures the dilemma of any dog choosing a new home – and any home finding a new dog! Terri-Lee goes to the pet shop to choose a dog. But, Crumble isn’t any ordinary dog. It doesn’t take him long to make it clear that it is he has very specific expectations of his new owner. Will Terri-Lee come up to scratch in this funny and also thought proving about dogs and their owners?
This is the 25th anniversary edition of this bestselling title which well-deserves its classic status. It has become the staple of pre-school life across the globe. Told in a simple rhythmic text that's full of action and it is matched by Helen Oxenbury’s wonderful illustrations which perfectly capture the fun and the wide range of emotions of the family day out that the story encompasses. This attractive new edition includes a beautiful dust jacket. There is a new website celebrating 25 years Bear Hunting - visit www.jointhebearhunt.com for everything a bear hunter could need including activities, videos, competitions and tour dates. You'll also find details of the Walker Books and Read for the RNIB Day in July 14 when there will be a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ record attempt for the world’s largest reading lesson. Want to be involved then go to www.jointhebearhunt.com. The book has sold in nearly 30 countries and in over 20 languages.
This is the 25th anniversary board book edition of this bestselling title which well-deserves its classic status. It has become the staple of pre-school life across the globe. Told in a simple rhythmic text that's full of action and it is matched by Helen Oxenbury’s wonderful illustrations which perfectly capture the fun and the wide range of emotions of the family day out that the story encompasses. There is a new website celebrating 25 years Bear Hunting - visit www.jointhebearhunt.com for everything a bear hunter could need including activities, videos, competitions and tour dates. The book has sold in nearly 30 countries and in over 20 languages.
Perfect for every child who’s just beginning to read alone, this hilarious tale is a roller coaster ride of fame and fortune and the possible resulting disasters. Elvie longs for a dog but gets a goldfish instead! Undeterred from following her ambition to own a famous performing pet, she trains her goldfish in the unusual art of… farting. Soon Fluff the fish is a celebrity. What on earth can go wrong???
Just how did Roald Dahl get into writing? Where did he get his ideas from? What ingredients in his life turned him into the kind of writer he was? Michael Rosen - poet, broadcaster and former Children's Laureate, comes up with some of the answers to these key questions in his lively biography of the world's Number1 storyteller. Full of stories and funny anecdotes from Roald Dahl's school days and family life, Michael Rosen's fascinating observations creates a vivid picture of one of the most famous writers of all time.
How a younger brother finds the skills he needs to match all the clever things his older brother does is magically resolved when Raffi goes up, up and away with an exceptional blue cat. It’s a dark, dark night when Raffi and the strange cat who appears in his bedroom take off into the night. Together, they light up everything around them – even the stars. Michael Foreman’s night time sky-scapes with their exceptional range of blues provide a perfect background and complimented by a lyrical story from the pen of a major talent in children's literature. It's fun.
A sequel to Dear Mother Goose , this is a hilarious collection of fairy stories with a difference. All the best-loved fairy-tale characters are here and they all have a different problem from the pesky girl who keeps eating little bear's porridge, to Pinocchio's mendacious habits, to the wolf who just won't leave Little Red Riding Hood alone. Wittily illustrated by Nick Sharratt, with a very funny text from Michael Rosen, this is a novelty book full of unexpected solutions - and a party at the end! The simple lift-the-flap novelty elements are put to brilliant effect.
Bob is a bear with a difference! He tries to everything he’s been taught before he goes out to be with a family but although he shows them his exercises, tries to be cuddly and does some reading, nothing seem to attract their attention. The he does something really special…How Bob bursts into pieces and entertains his new family will delight all the readers of the story too!
Age 3+. Former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen’s wonderfully touching and witty poems take readers through many familiar family moments such as Dad loosing his glasses in 'Where are his Glasses?' as well as some wildly inventive experiences as in 'A Dangerous Raisin'. Interspersing the poems Rosen adds different versions of his classic 'Down Behind the Dustbin' as a refrain adding many witty variations. There are also some excellent Michael Rosen remixes of classic nursery rhymes.
A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. Best-selling author of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen has a gift for playful humour for the very young. How Small, in this case a fly, can outsmart Big – an elephant, hippo and a great big tiger - is delightfully played out allowing the child reader to follow and wonder before being delighted by the surprise! Bold illustrations capture the drama perfectly.
Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen writes with great humour and economy in this delicious tease of a book. Just how much chaos can one tiny fly cause? Plenty! The great big elephant, the great big hippo and the great big tiger are all determined to get that one tiny fly. But, guess who has the last laugh? Kevin Waldron’s illustrations capture the humour of the unequal battle between big and tiny.
Age 7+. Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen brilliantly entertaining poems capture all kinds of moments of childhood – funny, sad, outrageous, tender, serious – many of which happened in his own childhood. Through them he charts some terrible things he did as a child – including breaking a toothbrush! – as well as some not so terrible but still highly entertaining. Great for reading aloud with your children.
This is an exhilarating story about friends helping each other realise their dreams and, having great fun doing it. When bear wants to fly he’s helped by four little children to realise his dream. What fun they have. In addition, it comes complete with an audio CD that is read by the author. It’s a perfect book for reading aloud and for listening to on a journey. A joyful follow up to The Bear in the Cave and We’re going on a Bear Hunt.
This is an exhilarating story about friends helping each other realise their dreams and, having great fun doing it. When bear wants to fly he’s helped by four little children to realise his dream. What fun they have. In addition, it comes complete with an audio CD that is read by the author. It’s a perfect book for reading aloud and for listening to on a journey. A joyful follow up to The Bear in the Cave and We’re going on a Bear Hunt.
Age 9+ This is an invaluable introduction to poets and poetry, with lively biographical sketches and fascinating notes written by Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, this is a classic collection to be read from cover to cover and back again or just dipped into from time.
Age 7+. Favourite classic poems are included in this hugely satisfying and handsomely illustrated collection. Among my favourites are the familiar nonsense of Edward Lear, Shelley’s mysterious and hauntingly beautiful Ozymandias and Edward Thomas’s Adlestrop. Others will find their own favourites. There is a useful glossary at the end as well as biographical sketches and notes on the poets by Michael Rosen. It is part of the Walker Illustrated Classics, a new series which brings together some of the best-loved stories ever told, illustrated by some of today's finest artists. These exquisitely designed books, with their magnificent words and glorious pictures, are a pleasure to read - and re-read. The classics have never looked so good. To view other titles in the Walker Illustrated Classics series go to our Classics genre and click the Illustrated tab.
Age 9+ Children’s Laureate and poet Michael Rosen offers children a rich taste of the world's poetry in this broad-ranging collection which includes classic work by Virgil, Chaucer, Donne, Milton and Coleridge, as well as contemporary verse by poets including Roger McGough and John Hegley. With sections of ballads, limericks and nonsense verse, this exhilarating collection is bursting with wit and joy, making it a wonderful addition to any bookshelf.
From the brilliantly talented author of We’re going on a Bear Hunt, comes a wonderfully warm and funny story about a bear who lives by the sea but thinks life in the city will be more fun – until he actually goes there and gets lost. All comes good in the end when some children take him back home. The text and illustrations combine to make a wonderfully appealing story for young children everywhere. In addition, it comes complete with an audio CD that is read by the author. A perfect book for reading aloud with the sing-along text and the sleepy ending make it the perfect bedtime read.
For anyone who loves ‘The Beautiful Game’ and who has ever dreamed of playing in an F.A. Cup Final then this is the perfect book. Even Stevens F.C. are a non-league side from Hackney who by extraordinary circumstances end up having a run in the F.A. Cup. The story follows 9-year-old Wayne Travis who perfects the special ‘triple bounce shot’ to help his side progress against much superior opposition. This book is great fun, full of charming pictures and is ideal for getting young boys into reading.
If you only want one collection of poetry on your child’s bookshelf then it has to be this stunning 25th anniversary hardback collection by best-selling author Michael Rosen and illustrator Quentin Blake. Alone or together with your child you will be totally transported into the words and pictures and if the book wasn’t good enough it also comes with a CD of the poems read by the author. Poet Laureate Michael best-selling classic collections of poems, “You Can't Catch Me" and "You Can't Put Mustard in the Custard" were first published 25 years ago. Now reissued in a bumper collection, which also shows off Quentin Blake’s accompanying illustrations to excellent advantage, this is a perfect introduction to some of the best and most child centred poems of today. Michael Rosen reads his own poems on the accompanying CD, which is pure magic.
From the brilliantly talented author of We’re going on a Bear Hunt , comes a wonderfully warm and funny story about a bear who lives by the sea but thinks life in the city will be more fun – until he actually goes there and gets lost. All comes good in the end when some children take him back home. The text and illustrations combine to make a wonderfully appealing story for young children everywhere. In addition, it comes complete with an audio CD that is read by the author.
This is a totally unique kaleidoscopic collection of children’s stories from around the world with illustrations by some outstanding artists including Helen Oxenbury, John Burningham, Axel Scheffler and Michael Foreman to name just four. It will fascinate children from 5 upwards and is perfect for sharing at bedtime. Michael Rosen has brought the collection together and Oxfam will receive royalties from the sale of every book so in addition to being a great joy to read, by buying it you’re giving something to families less well off than ourselves.
Age 6+ This collection is an ideal introduction to the joys of poetry. Favourite children's poet Michael Rosen knows just what will appeal most to children. Deliberately wide-ranging, it includes the work of classic poets such as Tennyson and Coleridge as well as traditional playground rhymes and folk songs from around the world. The collection also addresses different themes - here are funny, sad, wistful and intriguing poems. All have been specially chosen for their accessibility to young children, to stimulate their imaginations, to further their enjoyment of language, and to encourage a delight in poetry.
He's wild, he's wicked, he's Little Rabbit Foo-Foo! The bully-boy bunny likes nothing better than to ride through the forest bopping everyone on the head. Wriggly worms, tigers, no one is safe. But here comes the Good Fairy - and she is not amused!
Age 9+ This is an invaluable introduction to poets and poetry, with lively biographical sketches and fascinating notes written by Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, this is a classic collection to be read from cover to cover and back again or just dipped into from time.
Age 7+. Favourite classic poems are included in this hugely satisfying and handsomely illustrated collection. Among my favourites are the familiar nonsense of Edward Lear, Shelley’s mysterious and hauntingly beautiful Ozymandias and Edward Thomas’s Adlestrop. Others will find their own favourites. There is a useful glossary at the end as well as biographical sketches and notes on the poets by Michael Rosen. It is part of the Walker Illustrated Classics, a new series which brings together some of the best-loved stories ever told, illustrated by some of today's finest artists. These exquisitely designed books, with their magnificent words and glorious pictures, are a pleasure to read - and re-read. The classics have never looked so good. To view other titles in the Walker Illustrated Classics series go to our Classics genre and click the Illustrated tab.
Age 0-5+ People, cats, hats, the silvery moon are just some of the entertaining images you’ll see and hear in this entertaining and colourfully illustrated collection of poems, compiled by award-winning poet and Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen. Written in lots of different styles – limericks, tongue twisters, and nursery rhymes as you’ve never seen them before.
In the best tradition of nonsense verse, here are poems, rhymes, wordplay and limericks to make everyone smile and laugh out loud. Children will delight in unravelling the meanings of the words and in creating their own nonsense verse.
Age 6+ Containing all the ingredients of Michael Rosen's poetry - humour, rhyme, repetition and wordplay, this Book of Very Silly Poems covers all sorts of topics, all equally amusing and jovial.
Fantastic, cumulative adventure as a family cheerfully sets out on a brave hunt to find the bear. It could be frightening but they’re not scared. They’re full of confidence in what they are doing. Caves, mud, rivers, forest … whatever obstacles the family encounters, they resolutely overcome them happily repeating the chorus:“We can’t go over it”, “We can’t go under it”, “Oh no! We’ve got to go through it”.But when they find the bear its’ a lot more scary than they had thought and they hurtle home repeating all the noises as they go. ~ Julia Eccleshare Perfect for Reluctant Readers. To view other titles we think are suitable for reluctant readers please click here.
A powerful and personal story from one of Britain's best-loved authors about his recovery from coronavirus. After being admitted to hospital in 2020 with coronavirus, Michael Rosen had to learn to walk again. With the support of doctors and nurses and a walking stick he names Sticky McStickstick , he manages to embark on the slow steps to recovery. This moving picture book from the former Children's Laureate, with illustrations from Tony Ross, tells a story of perseverance and hope, and is a testament to the importance of overcoming fear and learning to accept help.
Every day we make decisions that are underpinned by our ideas of what is right and wrong. But where do these ideas come from? Where do our values come from and who decides which values are used in a society? This book is a highly topical look at how our decisions about what is right and wrong play out on an indvidual, local, national and global scale. It examines topics that are strongly connected to the values people hold and their ideas of right and wrong, such as democracy, justice, fairness, prejudice and discrimination, education, climate change and war. There are contributions from Laura Bates, Richard Rieser, Tulip Siddiq and Alex Wheatle, who, along with the authors, discuss how their ideas of what is right and wrong have been shaped by their life experiences. Readers are encouraged to think for themselves about the issues discussed and decide which values are important to them.
From minding your Ps and Qs to wondering why X should mark the spot, Alphabetical is a book for everyone who loves words and language. Whether it's how letters are arranged on keyboards or Viking runes, textspeak or zip codes, this book will change the way you think about letters for ever. How on Earth did we fix upon our twenty-six letters, what do they really mean, and how did we come to write them down in the first place? Michael Rosen takes you on an unforgettable adventure through the history of the alphabet in twenty-six vivid chapters, fizzing with personal anecdotes and fascinating facts. Starting with the mysterious Phoenicians and how sounds first came to be written down, he races on to show how nonsense poems work, pins down the strange story of OK, traces our seven lost letters and tackles the tyranny of spelling, among many, many other things. His heroes of the alphabet range from Edward Lear to Phyllis Pearsall (the inventor of the A-Z), and from the two scribes of Beowulf to rappers. Each chapter takes on a different subject - codes, umlauts or the writing of dictionaries. Rosen's enthusiasm for letters positively leaps off the page, whether it's the story of his life told through the typewriters he's owned or a chapter on jokes written in a string of gags and word games. So if you ever wondered why Hawaiian only has a thirteen-letter alphabet or how exactly to write down the sound of a wild raspberry, read on . . .
Two siblings drive their mother to distraction on the car journey from hell, while Mum tries every trick in the book to get them to behave. All together now: Are we nearly there yet...? A hilarious tale from beloved author Michael Rosen now in a hi-lo, dyslexia-friendly format for the struggling middle grade reader.
He's wild, he's wicked, he's Little Rabbit Foo-Foo! The bully-boy bunny likes nothing better than to ride through the forest bopping everyone on the head. Wriggly worms, tigers, no one is safe. But here comes the Good Fairy - and she is not amused!
A personal, powerful and resonant account of the Holocaust by one of this country's best-loved children's authors. By turns charming, shocking and heart-breaking, this is the true story of Michael Rosen's search for his relatives who went missing during the Second World War - told through prose, poetry, maps and pictures. When Michael was growing up, stories often hung in the air about his great-uncles: one was a clock-mender and the other a dentist. They were there before the war, his dad would say, and weren't after. Over many years, Michael tried to find out exactly what happened: he interviewed family members, scoured the internet, pored over books and traveled to America and France. The story he uncovered was one of terrible persecution - and it has inspired his poetry for years since. Here, poems old and new are balanced against an immensely readable narrative; both an extraordinary account and a powerful tool for talking to children about the Holocaust.
Adapted from the original poem in the wonderful first poetry anthology A Great Big Cuddle that Michael Rosen says, in his Note to Grown- ups, was inspired by watching his youngest child getting angry, this captures perfectly the all-consuming feeling of being at the epicentre of a toddler tantrum. Robert Starling’s glorious illustrations and the bold design perfectly compliment the brilliant rhymes. I have never seen a fiercer or more grumpy kitten! It is all about the eyes which glare furiously from the front cover and on the opening red endpapers. Hugely expressive eyes and body language also characterise the other animals that bear the brunt of kitten’s fury. The scared spider is a particular delight. White space and bold colour are used to great effect throughout and just as kitten is busy painting the sky read and filling the page… its all over and a tired little kitten snuggles his faithful little friend and goes to sleep and the final pale blue endpapers show sleeping eyes! This will reassure toddlers overwhelmed by their feelings that it does not last for ever and they are loved and safe. Very young children will really be able to engage with this valuable message and will enjoy the rhythmic and imaginative language and be entranced by the bold images. This is a perfect pairing of author and illustrator and I am already looking forward to I Am Hungry!
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