Michael Rosen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Rosen
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Rosen in 2022
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| Born | Michael Wayne Rosen 7 May 1946 Harrow, Middlesex, England |
| Occupation | Author, broadcaster, poet, activist, academic |
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| Period | 1974–present |
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Elizabeth Steele
(m. 1976; div. 1987)Geraldine Clark
(m. 1987; div. 1997)
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| Children | 5 (1 deceased) |
| Relatives | Harold Rosen (father) |
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Michael Wayne Rosen (born 7 May 1946) is a famous English author, poet, and presenter, especially known for his books for children. He is also a professor of children's literature at Goldsmiths, University of London. Michael Rosen has written over 200 books for both children and adults. Some of his most well-known books include We're Going on a Bear Hunt (1989) and Sad Book (2004).
From June 2007 to June 2009, he held the special role of Children's Laureate, which celebrates children's books and reading. In 2023, he won the PEN Pinter Prize for his brave and important writing.
Contents
Growing Up and School
Michael Wayne Rosen was born in Harrow, Middlesex, England, on 7 May 1946. His family had Jewish roots from parts of Europe that are now Poland, Romania, and Russia. His parents were very involved in social causes.
His father, Harold Rosen, was an educationalist who taught English at the Institute of Education in London. His mother, Connie, worked as a secretary and later as a primary school teacher. Both his parents were active in their community and met when they were 15. They even took part in the Battle of Cable Street, a famous event where people stood up against fascism.
Michael went to state schools in Pinner and Harrow, including Watford Grammar School for Boys. When he was about 11, he started attending Harrow Weald County Grammar School. He also spent some time as an exchange student at Winchester College.
Around the age of 12 or 13, Michael realized he loved writing. His mother, who worked for the BBC, encouraged him to write poetry for a program she was producing. He later studied English at Oxford University and started working for the BBC in 1972 before becoming a full-time writer and performer.
Michael Rosen's Career
After graduating from Wadham College, Oxford, in 1969, Michael Rosen started as a trainee at the BBC. He worked on children's TV shows, like Walrus, which helped kids learn to read and write. However, he found the work at the BBC a bit frustrating because he felt his creativity was limited. He left the BBC in 1972 to become a freelance writer and performer.
In 1974, Michael Rosen published his first poetry book for children, called Mind Your Own Business. He quickly became known for his funny and relatable poems for kids, with collections like Wouldn't You Like to Know and Quick Let's Get Out of Here. Experts in children's literature say he was one of the first poets to write about his own childhood experiences using everyday language that children actually use.
Michael Rosen helped make poetry more accessible to children. He was one of the first poets to visit schools all over the UK and even in other countries like Australia and Canada. His school visits still inspire children about poetry today.
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
One of his most famous books is We're Going on a Bear Hunt, a picture book illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. This book won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in 1989. In 2014, the publisher, Walker Books, celebrated the book's 25th anniversary by setting a Guinness World Record for the Largest Reading Lesson.
Broadcasting and Other Works
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Michael Rosen is also a well-known broadcaster. He presents Word of Mouth on BBC Radio 4, a show that explores the English language and how we use it.
His book Michael Rosen's Sad Book (2004), illustrated by Quentin Blake, is a very touching book that deals with grief and loss. He wrote it after his son, Eddie, passed away at the age of 18.
In 2011, he worked with his wife, Emma-Louise Williams, to create a film called Under the Cranes. Michael wrote the story, and Emma-Louise directed the film.
Michael Rosen has also taught children's literature at several universities, including London Metropolitan University, Birkbeck, University of London, and currently at Goldsmiths, University of London. He is also a supporter of the Shakespeare Schools Festival, a charity that helps schoolchildren perform Shakespeare plays in real theatres.
In 2017, he published his memoir So They Call You Pisher!. In March 2021, he released Many Different Kinds of Love: A Story of Life, Death and the NHS, which shares his experience of being hospitalized with COVID-19.
Views on Education
Michael Rosen has often spoken out about education. He doesn't agree with the way standardized tests (like SATs) are used in England. He believes that English education should focus more on reading and that the current grammar teaching can be confusing and outdated.
Awards and Recognition
In June 2007, Michael Rosen was chosen as the sixth British Children's Laureate. This important role promotes children's literature and reading. He held this position until June 2009.
He has received many honorary doctorates from universities, including the University of Exeter (2007), the University of East London (2008), Nottingham Trent University (2010), and the University of London (2011). In 2008, he was also honored by France with the Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature).
In 2010, he received the Fred and Anne Jarvis Award from the National Union of Teachers for his work campaigning for education. In 2021, he received the J.M. Barrie Lifetime Achievement Award for his amazing work in children's arts.
In 2022, he was given an honorary fellowship by the Royal College of Nursing for sharing his experience as a patient and raising awareness about COVID-19.
In 2023, Michael Rosen won the prestigious PEN Pinter Prize. The judges praised his "ability to address the most serious matters of life in a spirit of joy, humour and hope." He chose to share his award with Uyghur professor Rahile Dawut, recognizing her courage.
Personal Life
Michael Rosen has been married three times and has five children. His second son, Eddie, passed away at 18, which inspired his book Sad Book. Michael lives in North London with his third wife, Emma-Louise Williams, and their two children.
He shares his poetry and stories for children on his YouTube channel. As of July 2024, his channel has over 787,000 subscribers and 142 million video views!
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael Rosen became very ill with suspected COVID-19. He spent 48 days in intensive care and was in the hospital for a long time. He returned home in June 2020. In 2021, he shared that he was experiencing long COVID symptoms, including losing some sight in his left eye and hearing in his left ear, and numbness in his toes.
