New Releases by Michael Rosen

The Cold is coming, and it''s time for Big Bear and Little Bear to get ready for the Big Sleep: for bears sleep all winter long, and wake up in the spring. But Little Bear is worried. What if they run out of dreams during the Big Sleep? Little Bear sets out bravely to find enough dreams to see them through the long winter. On his journey, he discovers dreams of happiness, dreams of homecoming, and dreams of hope. But with the Cold approaching fast, will Little Bear make it back home in time for the Big Dreaming? A resonant and uplifting tale from a master storyteller, The Big Dreaming is a classic in the making, filled with luminous illustrations by award-winning artist Daniel Egnéus.

The Cold is coming, and it''s time for Big Bear and Little Bear to get ready for the Big Sleep: for bears sleep all winter long, and wake up in the spring. But Little Bear is worried. What if they run out of dreams during the Big Sleep? And so, Little Bear sets out bravely to find enough dreams to see them through the long winter. On his journey, he discovers dreams of happiness; dreams of homecoming; and dreams of hope. But with the Cold approaching fast, will Little Bear make it back home in time for the Big Dreaming? A resonant and uplifting tale from a master storyteller, The Big Dreaming is a classic in the making, filled with luminous illustrations by award-winning Daniel Egnéus.

When you''re hungry--really hungry--what exactly could you eat? From the delicious to the daffy, Michael Rosen''s rhyming read-aloud offers a tasting menu for the silliest toddler connoisseurs among us. Look out! This squirrel is hungry. So hungry, it could eat . . . everything! Just how hungry is this squirrel? He could eat boiled rice, chocolate mice, a gingerbread man . . . even a frying pan! Is there anything he won''t eat? In a laugh-out-loud ride of imagination and hilarity, Michael Rosen''s charming rhymes and Robert Starling''s vibrant, bold illustrations capture the absurdity and occasional outlandishness of toddler moods. Based on the popular poem from Michael Rosen''s collection A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young, I Am Hungry will satisfy the read-aloud appetites of parents and children alike.

No matter how hard we try, we just can''t get out. It''s like we are not allowed to. Some give up and say, “alright then, if you won''t give, I will bloody well take.” And you know what Shona, I don''t blame them. Shona and her class are studying the Charles Dickens classic, Oliver Twist. She''s the new girl in school and is finding it hard to stay out of trouble – much like Oliver himself! When she''s given a new phone by a stranger, she begins to suspect there''s something unusual about the new boys she''s met. Unexpected Twist is a re-telling of Oliver Twist by one of the best-loved figures in the children''s book world, Michael Rosen. This thrilling story was brought to vivid life by The Children''s Theatre Partnership, and Royal & Derngate, Northampton, whose co-productions have included Holes and The Jungle Book. Directed by James Dacre (2020 Olivier Award nominated Our Lady of Kibeho), Rosen''s novel was adapted for the stage by BAFTA award-winning playwright Roy Williams (Death of England, Sucker Punch) with original music by rising R&B star Yaya Bey and BAC Beatbox Academy''s Conrad Murray. This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere and UK tour, in April 2023.

In our lives, terrible things may happen. Michael Rosen has grieved the loss of a child, lived with debilitating chronic illness, and faced death itself when seriously unwell in hospital. In spite of this he has survived, and has even learned to find joy in life in the aftermath of tragedy. In Getting Better, he shares his story and the lessons he has learned along the way. Exploring the roles that trauma and grief have played in his own life, Michael investigates the road to recovery, asking how we can find it within ourselves to live well again after - or even during - the darkest times of our lives. Moving and insightful, Getting Better is an essential companion for anyone who has loved and lost, or struggled and survived.

Former British Children''s Laureate Michael Rosen and award-winning artist Polly Dunbar join forces for thirty-two irresistible rhymes that revel in toddlers’ everyday lives. Will you getti the spaghetti? Don’t say, “Not yetti spaghetti!” I’m all setti for spaghetti. Fizzing with rhythm, energy, and laughter, this perfect gift-book introduction to poetry celebrates the day-to-day routines of early childhood. From the rise-and-shine exuberance of "Up, up, uppity-up!" to the sweet lull of “Hush and a hush/soft and low,” colorful pages abound with observations of ordinary moments, from brushing your teeth to digging in a sandbox, that mirror a childlike day-in-the-life. Poetic bounty at its best and brightest, this playful and affectionate read-aloud treasure will have toddlers clamoring for more, for the sheer fun of it.

A fabulously funny take on a classic story from two giants of children’s books!

Michael Rosen shows how the redemptive hope of religion became the redemptive hope of historical progress. This was the heart of German Idealism: purpose lay not in God’s judgment but in worldly projects; freedom required not being subject to arbitrary authority, human or divine. Yet purpose and freedom never shed their theistic structure.

A funny farmyard story from much-loved author, Michael Rosen. Perfect for bedtime, or any time!

First published by Walker Books (UK) 2020.

"The powerful and personal coronavirus diaries of Michael Rosen, Britain''s best loved poet, full of stories of love, life and the NHS. A national treasure''s journey to the brink and back. ''Will I wake up?'' ''There''s a 50:50 chance.'' Michael Rosen wasn''t feeling well. Soon he was struggling to breathe, and then he was admitted to hospital, suffering from coronavirus as the nation teetered on the edge of a global pandemic. What followed was months on the wards: six weeks in an induced coma, and many more weeks of rehab and recovery as the NHS saved Michael''s life, and then got him back on his feet. Throughout Michael''s stay in intensive care, a notebook lay at the end of his bed, where the nurses who cared for him wrote letters of hope and support. Embarking on the long road to recovery, Michael was soon ready to start writing about his near-death experience. Combining stunning new prose poems by one of Britain''s best loved poets and the moving coronavirus diaries of his nurses, doctors and wife Emma-Louise Williams, this is a beautiful book about love, life and the NHS. Featuring original illustrations by Chris Riddell, each page celebrates the power of community, the importance of kind gestures in dark times, and the indomitable spirits of the people who keep us well"--Publisher''s description.

An award-winning author and poet traces the history of his relatives lost in the Holocaust in a personal, powerful narrative with resonance for readers today. “They were there at the beginning of the war, but they were gone by the end. I suppose they died in the camps.” That’s all young Michael Rosen, born in England just after the end of the Second World War, was told about the six great-aunts and great-uncles who had been living in Poland or France at the beginning of that war. This wasn’t enough for him. So, as an adult, he started to search. He asked relatives for any papers they might have. He read book after book. He searched online, time and again, as more information was digitized and suddenly there to be found. In a unique mix of memoir, history, and poetry, scholar and children’s literature luminary Michael Rosen explores his family history, digging up more details than he ever thought he would and sharing them with readers so that now, a lifetime after the Nazis tried to make the world forget the Rosen family and the rest of Europe’s Jews, his readers can do something essential: remember. With an extensive list of titles for further reading, maps of France and Poland, a family tree, and an introduction by lauded author and anthologist Marc Aronson, this immensely readable narrative offers a vital tool for talking to children about the Holocaust against the background of the ongoing refugee crisis.

Standard print edition originally published 1989 by Walker Books Ltd.

Today, we don''t get nearly enough play in our lives. At school, kids are drilled on exams, while at home we''re all glued to our phones and screens. Former children''s laureate and bestselling author, Michael Rosen, is here to show us how to put this right - and why it matters so much for creativity, resilience and much more. Packed with silliness, activities and prompts for creative indoor and outdoor play for all ages - with specially illustrated pages for everything from doodling to word play and after-dinner games.

“This collection of silly rhymes and poems is sure to please. . . . An excellent choice for pre-readers and very young children, as well as anyone with a love for nursery rhymes.” — School Library Journal (starred review) Michael Rosen invites children to joyfully celebrate sounds and the infinite possibilities of language with these nine clever poems adapted from A Great Big Cuddle. Nonsense verses with the feel of classic nursery rhymes tickle the ear and set feet tapping while expressive illustrations by Chris Riddell illuminate the larger-than-life characters. With subject matter that runs the gamut of a child’s emotional range from hungry and angry to wiggly and giggly, this collection will delight little listeners.

Let your imagination run riot and laughter fill your belly as you explore traditional poems, rhymes with a twist, and subversive playground favourites in this playful treasure chest of verse.

A riotous celebration of words – silly words, funny words, words you only use in your own family, new words, old words, and the very best words in the right order. Melon Melon squashy, melon sloshy. My friend Helen''s eating melon. So far, so good with Helen and her melon. But here''s what I''m tellin'' Helen: ''Don''t SIT on your melon, Helen!'' Filled with colour illustrations and packed with silly rhymes, witty wordplay and thought-provoking story poems, this collection will delight children of all ages. Michael Rosen is the bestselling author of We''re Going on a Bear Hunt, along with many other picture books and collections of poetry.

The brilliant family memoir of the much-beloved poet and political campaigner In this hilarious, moving memoir, much-loved children’s poet and political campaigner Michael Rosen recalls the first twenty-three years of his life. He was born in the North London suburbs, and his parents, Harold and Connie, both teachers, first met as teenage Communists in the Jewish East End of the 1930s. The family home was filled with stories of relatives in London, the United States and France and of those who had disappeared in Europe. Different from other children, Rosen and his brother, Brian, grew up dreaming of a socialist revolution. Party meetings were held in the front room. Summers were for communist camping holidays. But it all changed after a trip to East Germany when, in 1957, his parents decided to leave ‘the Party’. From that point, Michael followed his own journey of radical self-discovery: running away to Aldermaston to march against the bomb; writing and performing in experimental political theatre at Oxford; getting arrested during the 1968 movements. The book ends with a letter to his father, and the revelation of a heartbreaking family secret.

A timely retelling of A Christmas Carol for the whole family about a smartphone-obsessed dad. This Christmas, join Michael Rosen and Tony Ross with their unforgettable retelling of Charles Dickens''s beloved holiday classic. Harry Gruber plays the role of Scrooge in his school''s production of "A Christmas Carol," and he is extra nervous about tonight''s performance because his father is in the audience — not away for business, as usual. Will the story''s message of Christmas cheer and the redemptive power of love reach his father''s distracted Scrooge heart?

The third uproarious adventure from the comic pairing of Michael Rosen and Neal Layton sees Malcolm and his awful Uncle Gobb return, each with a cunning plot ... This time, there is a plot. That''s the plot of the story. Or is it? The plot of the story could also be that Uncle Gobb has an evil plot. And his plot is about a plot. A plot of land. Are you following? Good! The plot of land is behind Malcolm''s school and it is where Uncle Gobb wants to set up his own rival Dread Shed School of Facts. Oh no! Malcolm is going to need to come up with his own plot to stop Uncle Gobb''s plot. So maybe that, in fact, is the actual plot of this story. You''ll just have to read this book to find out! A bonkers book about standing up for yourself, from two crazily creative people. Sure to delight fans of Andy Stanton and Tom Gates.

An original story by Michael Rosen, inspired by the Charles Dickens classic Oliver Twist. Shona is moving house because her dad''s lost his benefits. At her new school, she finds that keeping out of trouble isn''t easy - just like for Oliver Twist, in her English class readings. After Shona is unexpectedly given a mobile phone, she begins to suspect there''s something dodgy about the boys she''s met. Some gifts, she comes to learn, aren''t exactly free.

Bear lovers rejoice! Pull the tabs and watch the pictures transform in an interactive edition of the award-winning classic. Follow and join in the family''s excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river, and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. Pull the tabs to change the pictures along the way — we’re going to catch a big one!

Celebrated poet, critic, and Shakespeare enthusiast Rosen offers kids a whirlwind tour of William Shakespeare''s life, his London, and four of his plays: "A Midsummer Night''s Dream, Macbeth, King Lear, " and "The Tempest." Illustrations.

Pronounced guilty of libel and sentenced to a year in prison, novelist mile Zola went on the run. Zola''s crime had been to defend a wrongly convicted man, in what became known as the Dreyfus Affair. Fleeing the French state with just hours to spare he ended up living in the suburbs of south London unable to speak a word of English. Michael Rosen brings to life the sleepy world of late Victorian suburbia, Zola''s turbulent politics and his tangled private life. Desperate to write a novel, he was also trying to balance the extremely delicate matter of the two women in his life - one the mother of his children, the other his wife. The Disappearance of mile Zola is the incredible true story of a writer''s personal bravery in the face of the greatest political scandal of the age.

Bear lovers, rejoice! Shake up a snowstorm in this gorgeous gift edition of the award-winning classic by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one. Will you come, too? For over a quarter of a century, readers have been swishy-swashying and splash-sploshing through this award-winning favorite. This hardback gift edition includes a 3-D snow scene on the cover to add fun and festive flurries to your favorite family adventure story.

The incredible story of Émile Zola''s escape to London in the aftermath of the scandalous Dreyfus Affair. It is the evening of July 18, 1898 and the world-renowned novelist Émile Zola is on the run. His crime? Taking on the highest powers in the land with his open letter "J''accuse"—and losing. Forced to leave Paris with nothing but the clothes he is standing in and a nightshirt wrapped in newspaper, Zola flees to England with no idea when he will return. This is the little-known story of Zola''s time in exile. Rosen has traced Zola''s footsteps from the Gare du Nord to London, examining the significance of this year. The Disappearance of Émile Zola offers an intriguing insight into the mind, the loves, and the politics of the great writer during this tumultuous era in his life.

When I was a boy, I had a favourite treat. It was when my mum made . . . CHOCOLATE CAKE! Ohhh! I LOVED chocolate cake. Fantastically funny and full of silly noises, this is Michael Rosen''s love letter to every child''s favourite treat, chocolate cake. Brought to life as a picture book for the first time with brilliant and characterful illustrations by Kevin Waldron.

A detailed and very personal guide to reading and writing poetry by one of the country''s leading children''s poets.Over many years as a working poet, Michael Rosen has thought a great deal about what poems are, what they can do and the pleasure that comes from writing and reading poetry. In this invaluable handbook, he shares this knowledge and experience in book form for the very first time. Starting with a detailed analysis of a number of classic poems, he offers a real "writer''s guide" to writing and performing poems, as well as a wealth of technical information and tips. He then takes a fascinating look at a selection of his own poems and explains how and why he wrote them. Complete with an appendix of poets and useful websites, and beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Jill Calder, this is the only guide to poetry children and teachers will ever need.

This book addresses a central theme in social and political theory: what is the motivation behind the theory of ideology, and can such a theory be defended?

Synopsis coming soon.......