FORMER Children’s Laureate, best-selling children’s writer Michael Rosen is coming to Bridport’s Electric Palace on Thursday 1st August, celebrating his 50th anniversaries of his live performances and the publication of his first book. The talks are at 11.30am and 2.30pm.
One of the world’s best-selling writers for children, and a popular broadcaster, Michael, who was the Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009, will talk about his life and career and will answer questions from the audience, and sign books.
In the 50 years since he published Mind Your Own Business, he has published around 200 books for children and adults, and has had 55 million views on his YouTube Channel, Kids Poems and Stories with Michael Rosen. One of his best-known and most loved books is We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (*ith illustrator Helen Oxenbury), which has been adapted as an animated film for Channel 4 and turned into a successful stage show.
Michael Rosen’s first degree was from Wadham College, Oxford. He went on to study for an MA and a PhD and is currently Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London where he co-devised and teaches an MA in children’s literature.
As a broadcaster, Michael has presented BBC Radio 4’s acclaimed programme about language, Word of Mouth, since 1998, as well as regularly presenting documentary programmes for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3, including the Sony Gold Award-winning On Saying Goodbye”.
He has written a book for children and teachers on writing poetry, What is Poetry? and three booklets for teachers on writing and reading. He also writes a monthly open “letter” to the Secretary of State for Education in The Guardian where he critiques gvernment policy on schools from the standpoint of a parent. He visits schools, teachers’ conferences and university teacher training departments and regularly appears at literary festivals all over the UK and Ireland.
His many honorary awards include degrees from the Open University, the University of Exeter and the University of London Institute of Education, the Eleanor Farjeon Award for outstanding contribution to children’s literature he received and Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of his contribution to the profile of French culture in the UK.