Best Selling Books by Michael Rosen

A man tells about all the emotions that accompany his sadness over the death of his son, and how he tries to cope.

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 . . .

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.

This collection of dramatic versions of favourite stories, retold by Vivian French - with illustrations from the original books, are written for four voices. Each part, denoted by different colour bands, can be read by a single or several voices and accommodate a wide range of reading abilities.

Combines nonsense poems and fanciful illustrations with objects representing each letter of the alphabet.

George won''t let any of the other children into his cardboard box house, but when the tables are turned, he finds out how it feels to be excluded.

A tender, funny, topsy-turvy book about the adventures of a dog and his pet human from master storyteller, Michael Rosen and bestselling Neal Layton

dear joe, your wild noisy huge brother is dead. i couldn''t do what my parents did: bring two boys, four years apart, through the maze in 72 prose-poems of extraordinary power and vividness, Michael Rosen tells the story of a life: his left-wing Jewish upbringing, with baffling childhood trips to Trafalgar Square, eastern Europe and hospital, followed by trainee days at the BBC under the watchful eyes of Mi5, breakdown of a marriage, development of a new relationship, and the joy of a new baby. And, in a core series of pieces, the central calamity of his life: the sudden death from meningitis of his eighteen-year-old son. ''Rather you than me'' said one of the neighbours on hearing the news - a remark that Rosen records, as he does much else to do with the death, with a surprised, painful honesty which constantly brings the reader up short. Unflinching, totally lacking in mawkishness and self-pity, Carrying the Elephant is a triumph of imagination and curiosity.

Standard print edition originally published 1989 by Walker Books Ltd.

From beloved author Michael Rosen (We''re Going on a Bear Hunt) and award-winning illustrator Daniel Egnéus comes a modern classic picture book about love, hope and the dreams that sustain us. * “A soothing tale that will be welcomed in autumn or at bedtime in any season of the year.” -Booklist, starred review 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. Read Bear''s Big Dreaming if you are looking for: A cozy bedtime book to inspire sweet dreams A gift to treasure with stunning gold foil A seasonal story that introduces bear hibernation

A GUARDIAN BEST CHILDREN''S BOOK OF THE YEAR **''A picture book of sublime warmth and comfort'' - Guardian** **''Gorgeous'' - Observer** **''A simply beautiful book for young children'' - The i Newspaper** 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.

Brilliantly funny story told from a dog''s eye view, written by bestselling Children''s Laureate, Michael Rosen.

Michael Rosen discusses the philosophical issues involved in historical interpretation before presenting a novel and challenging solution to the problem of Hegel''s openness to criticism. Contrary to received opinion, Hegel''s philosophy does not, he argues, draw upon a universal and pre-suppositionless conception of rationality.

Synopsis coming soon.......

The yucky things your brother does, the annoying things your parents say, the funny things you feel. Michael Rosen knows all about YOU! Family life from the brilliant Michael Rosen & Quentin Blake.

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.

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.

With a tramp and a roll and a swat, Great Big Elephant, Great Big Hippo, and Great Big Tiger try to capture Tiny Little Fly as he teases each one in turn.

Synopsis coming soon.......

Collection of poems about school. Suggested level: primary.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

A collection of contemporary nonsense poetry and verse.

A collection of poems about the unique experiences and emotions of childhood.