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Children's reading lists

The best poetry books for children

A photo of Michael Rosen in profile, against a grey background

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Interviews

‘Stories are a way of laughing at death’: Michael Rosen on the human need for literature

A flatlay of must-read poetry collections set against a navy blue background.

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Reading lists

The best poetry collections of 2021 so far

Michael Rosen's top tips for performing poems and stories

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Crafts & activities

Michael Rosen’s top tips for performing poems and stories

Weird and wonderful words for every day of the year

Rosen’s Almanac

Michael Rosen is one of the best-known figures in the children's book world. He is renowned for his work as a poet, performer, broadcaster and scriptwriter. He visits schools with his one-man show to enthuse children with his passion for books and poetry. In 2007 he was appointed Children's Laureate, a role which he held until 2009. While Laureate, he set up The Roald Dahl Funny Prize. He currently lives in London with his wife and children.

Discover the poetry of the people. 
 
What are words? They're the beginning of our stories: portals to treasured memories, to the strange sayings that seem to be unique to our own families and the beloved people that say them to us. So, what was your gran's favourite word for a time-waster? How did your dad answer the question 'What's the time?'? And just how many responses are there to the daily query 'What's for dinner?' Even better, how do these words change as they travel across our regions? 
 
In a joyful journey through a year of weird words and fantastic phrases, one of the nation's favourite wordsmiths takes a tour of the British Isles and all its vernacular idiosyncrasies, as well as reflecting on the joys of English, in a delightful book for anyone who loves language - whether following its rules or breaking them!

Life lessons on going under, getting over it, and getting through it

Getting Better

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.

A story of life, death and the NHS

Many Different Kinds of Love

An astonishingly original and moving book

Harrowing, beautiful and sometimes very funny

Emotional...impossible to read without a lump in the throat

Intimate, desolate and sometimes very funny

Touching and, at times, surprisingly amusing

Michael Rosen is one of the best-known figures in the children's book  world.  He is renowned for his work as a poet, performer, broadcaster  and scriptwriter. He visits schools with his one-man show to enthuse  children with his passion for books and poetry. In 2007 he was appointed  Children's Laureate, a role which he held until 2009.  While Laureate,  he set up The Roald Dahl Funny Prize. He currently lives in London with his wife and children.

The instant Sunday Times top ten bestseller 
 
A Guardian Book of the Year 
An Evening Standard Book of the Year 
An Independent Book of the Year 
Netgalley's non-fiction Book of the Year 
 
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.

Michael Rosen's Big Book of Bad Things

A series of poetry titles for children by many of Britain's greatest poets.

Discover funny, dark and thought-provoking poems on all things bad, from former Children’s Laureate 2007-2009, Michael Rosen. 
 
This poetry collection contains hilarious tales of friendship, family life and the horrors of being late for school, as well as poems to ponder - just think, how great would Satnav trousers be! 
 
This touching and funny poetry collection from one of Britain’s greatest children’s poets will delight readers young and old.

Michael Rosen is a poet with a superb ear for the rhythms of language

One of our most popular writers - the champion for every bored, overdrilled, tested-to-tears pupil in the land

I think poetry for children needs to be saved from the cold dissection of right and wrong answers and put back into rooms and halls full of wonder, compassion, haunting, laughter, music and rhythm. We need to hear its many cultures, many voices, many sounds. This is about wide and diverse participation. Diverse verse for all!

Michael Rosen, Children's Laureate 20072009

Nothing about this playful free verse is obscure or difficult, yet it revels in the sounds and meanings of words. It contains whimsy, flights of fancy and even satire.

Michael Rosen is one of the best known figures, not only in the children's book world but also the British arts scene. His first book of children's poems was published in 1974, and he has gone on to write numerous and award-winning children's books such as Quick, Let's get Out of Here, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake. Alongside this he performs, teaches, lectures, presents Word of Mouth on BBC Radio 4 and reviews books for the Guardian. He was Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and founded the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2008 as part of his laureateship to honour books that make children laugh!

A wonderfully exuberant yet poignant poetry collection from one of Britain's greatest children's poets Michael Rosen. Some poems are funny, some are sad, there are longer story poems and poems to ponder, such as how great would Satnav trousers be! Former Children's Laureate, Michael continuously promotes the need for children's poetry in our education system, and this collection, first published in 2010, continues to delight readers young and old.

Michael Rosen's Book of Very Silly Poems

Let your imagination run riot and laughter fill your belly as you explore this book of poems from former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen. 
 
Discover traditional poems, rhymes with a twist, and subversive playground favourites in this playful treasure chest of verse. 
 
 This is the perfect book for young readers to dive into the world of poetry and a great read-aloud with friends of family.

Michael Rosen, Children's Laureate 2007-2009

Michael Rosen (Author, External Editor) 
Michael Rosen is one of the best known figures, not only in the children's book world but also the British arts scene. His first book of children's poems was published in 1974, and he has gone on to write numerous and award-winning children's books such as Quick, Let's get Out of Here, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake. Alongside this he performs, teaches, lectures, presents Word of Mouth on BBC Radio 4 and reviews books for the Guardian. He was Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and founded the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2008 as part of his laureateship to honour books that make children laugh!

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.

Centrally Heated Knickers

This irreverent and laugh-out-loud funny poetry book for children is written by beloved Children's Laureate 2007-2009 and illustrated by Harry Horse. 
 
Packed full of 100 poems about science and technology, in this collection they'll be introduced to the weird and wonderful world of martians, woolly saucepans and centrally heated knickers. 
 
Centrally Heated Knickers is perfect for introducing younger readers to poetry, with cross-curricular links and laughs.

One of our most popular writers &ndash; the champion for every bored, overdrilled, tested-to-tears pupil in the land

Hail! Hail! 
 
I come from another 
 
galaxy. 
 
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, Children's Laureate 2007 - 2009.

Chocolate Cake

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.

Michael Rosen (Author) 
 Michael Rosen is one of the best known figures, not only in the children's book world but also the British arts scene. His first book of children's poems was published in 1974, and he has gone on to write numerous and award-winning children's books such as Quick, Let's get Out of Here, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake. Alongside this he performs, teaches, lectures, presents Word of Mouth on BBC Radio 4 and reviews books for the Guardian. He was Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and founded the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2008 as part of his laureateship to honour books that make children laugh! 
 
Kevin Waldron (Illustrator) 
 Kevin Waldron was born and raised in Dublin. 
 
After graduating with a degree in graphic design from D.I.T., he moved to London to study for an M.A in illustration at Kingston University. His first book, Mr. Peek and the Misunderstanding at the Zoo (Templar Publishing) won the Bologna Ragazzi Opera Prima Award in 2009. He illustrated Tiny Little Fly (Walker Books), written by Michael Rosen which won the Bull-Bransom Award in 2011. The same year, he was also named one of the Booktrust best new illustrators. 
 
Kevin has now made New York his home. He makes picture books from his studio in Brooklyn. Sometimes his wife comes home &amp; is angry that all the leftover dessert is gone.

Fantastic Mr Dahl

"A true genius . . . Roald Dahl is my hero" David Walliams 
Life story of Roald Dahl, World's No.1 storyteller, creator of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach and many more, brought to life by Michael Rosen - author, top children's poet and former Children's Laureate. Written especially for children, with fun pages and illustrations by Quentin Blake. 
 
So, 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 comes up with some of the answers to these key questions in his lively biography, specially for children, of the world's No.1 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.

Michael Rosen (Author) Michael Rosen is one of the best known figures, not only in the children's book world but also the British arts scene. His first book of children's poems was published in 1974, and he has gone on to write numerous and award-winning children's books such as Quick, Let's get Out of Here, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake. Alongside this he performs, teaches, lectures, presents Word of Mouth on BBC Radio 4 and reviews books for the Guardian. He was Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and founded the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2008 as part of his laureateship to honour books that make children laugh! Quentin Blake (Illustrator) Quentin Blake has illustrated more than three hundred books and was Roald Dahl's favourite illustrator. In 1980 he won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. In 1999 he became the first ever Children's Laureate and in 2013 he was knighted for services to illustration.

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 No.1 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.

You Wait Till I'm Older Than You!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 
 
GET OFF, GET OFF, GET OFF! 
 
Well, what would you say if your brother kept whacking you with a spoon, or the spider made it all the way up the toilet bowl, or your mum made you wear that horrible shirt? 
 
Find out in this fantastically funny collection of poems all about growing up from the brilliant Michael Rosen, the author of award-winning children's books such as Quick, Let's get Out of Here, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake.

Quick, Let's Get Out of Here

Discover the laugh-out-loud funny poetry collection for children from the beloved Children's Laureate 2007-2009, illustrated by Quentin Blake. 
 
The yucky things your brother does, the annoying things your parents say, the funny things you feel. 
 
With 192 pages filled with poems about family life, this is the perfect poetry collection for children to read themselves or with others from the brilliant Michael Rosen & Quentin Blake.

Discover the laugh-out-loud funny poetry collection for children from the beloved Children's Laureate 2007-2009, illustrated by Quentin Blake. 
 
The yucky things your brother does, the annoying things your parents say, the funny things you feel. 
 
With 192 pages

Stop What You're Doing And Read This!

A mission statement about the transformative power of reading; about the way it inspires us, the tangible impact it can have on our wellbeing, the importance it holds for us now and will continue to hold in the future.

A strong argument for making "reading more" one of your new Year's Resolutions

Not having enough time to read is a common complaint. But as this collection of essays by ten committed bibliophiles attempts to show, reading should be an activity as regular as brushing your teeth

Ebullient... Subtle... Inspiring and impassioned... This advocacy for intense reading is punchy and sharp

A delightful collection of essays from luminaries of the book world... Some are personal, some political, but all are passionate

In any 24 hours there might be sleeping, eating, kids, parents, friends, lovers, work, school, travel, deadlines, emails, phone calls, Facebook, Twitter, the news, the TV, Playstation, music, movies, sport, responsibilities, passions, desires, dreams. 
 
Why should you stop what you're doing and read a book? 
 
People have always needed stories. We need literature - novels, poetry - because we need to make sense of our lives, test our depths, understand our joys and discover what humans are capable of. Great books can provide companionship when we are lonely or peacefulness in the midst of an overcrowded daily life. Reading provides a unique kind of pleasure and no-one should live without it. 
 
In the ten essays in this book some of our finest authors and passionate advocates from the worlds of science, publishing, technology and social enterprise tell us about the experience of reading, why access to books should never be taken forgranted, how reading transforms our brains, and how literature can save lives. In any 24 hours there are so many demands on your time and attention - make books one of them. 
 
Carmen Callil Tim Parks 
Nicholas Carr Michael Rosen 
Jane Davis Zadie Smith 
Mark Haddon Jeanette Winterson 
Blake Morrison Dr Maryanne Wolf &amp; Dr Mirit Barzillai

The best children's poetry from Agard to Zephaniah

Michael Rosen's A-Z

From Agard to Zephaniah, the very best of children's poetry from the very best of children's poets appears in this wonderful and exciting anthology edited by Michael Rosen, the Children's Laureate. 
 
Coinciding with his laureateship and a very welcome public promotion of the need for children's poetry in our education system, this future classic for Puffin will delight readers young and old, and make the perfect gift.

Selected Poems

Michael Rosen is published alongside Brian Patten as part of the acclaimed Penguin Selected series. In 2006, this included Geoffrey Hill, Roger McGough and Derek Mahon.

Michael Rosen's Selected Poems is a wonderfully moving sequence of prose poems extracted from his acclaimed autobiographical triptych, Carrying the Elephant, This is Not My Nose and In the Colonie. In a series of artful, deceptively simple poems, Rosen covers a vast terrain, collating vivid and fragmentary memories from his left-wing Jewish upbringing, his teenage holiday at a socialist summer camp in France, his London childhood and the death of his eighteen-year-old son from meningitis. He takes in, along the way, marriage, divorce, births and the undiagnosed illness (an underactive thyroid) from which Rosen suffered for ten years.

No Breathing in Class

Michael Rosen (Author) Michael Rosen is one of the best known figures, not only in the children's book world but also the British arts scene. His first book of children's poems was published in 1974, and he has gone on to write numerous and award-winning children's books such as Quick, Let's get Out of Here, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake. Alongside this he performs, teaches, lectures, presents Word of Mouth on BBC Radio 4 and reviews books for the Guardian. He was Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and founded the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2008 as part of his laureateship to honour books that make children laugh! Korky Paul (Illustrator) Korky Paul (Illustrator) Korky Paul was born in Zimbabwe. He has lived in California and Greece as well as Great Britain. He studied at the Californian Institute of Art, Los Angeles, and then began a career as an Art Director in advertising, but found he enjoyed drawing so much he left to illustrate children's books. He is now a successful and highly regarded picture book illustrator.

A collection of poems about school and friends - some familiar favourites and some brand new poems to excite young readers. Michael Rosen's humorous insights into children's lives make this a wonderfully accessible collection, with full colour illustrations by the irrepressible Korky Paul.

Michael Rosen

An A-Z of Hope and Happiness

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 
 
An A-Z of hope and happiness from poet, bestselling author and national treasure Michael Rosen, with 26 ideas for bringing joy into every day. 
 
Discover a world where finding joy is as simple as ABC... 
 
In an uncertain world, we need hope and happiness more than ever. So what are the words that can help us find it? Let Michael Rosen take you on a quest for joy in his dictionary of delights, where each letter of the alphabet offers us a moment of daily enchantment, celebrating the magic of the small things that bring hope and happiness into our lives. 
 
Perfect for dipping into whenever you need a boost, open this joyful compendium to discover a new vocabulary of delight that will lift your spirits and brighten your day

Michael Rosen

Books by Michael Rosen

Articles featuring Michael Rosen

The best poetry books for children

‘Stories are a way of laughing at death’: Michael Rosen on the human need for literature

The best poetry collections of 2021 so far

Michael Rosen’s top tips for performing poems and stories

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