Michael Rosen
Series 3: Episode 17 - the Children's Laureate visits The Book Show
Michael Rosen was born in London where his childhood was rich in books, stories and conversation. Michael attended Middlesex Hospital Medical School for a year but transferred to Wadham College, Oxford to study English Literature. At Oxford, he started to realise his ambition of acting (as well as writing and directing). Michael still says that if he wasn't a poet, he'd like to be an actor.
Michael has been writing poetry since the age of 18. His first collection, Mind Your Own Business, was published in 1974. Although it was not planned as a collection for children, it appeared on Andre Deutsch's children's list. This, says Michael, was a turning point - "Suddenly it all fused: the writing, the performing, the popular audience. It was just incredibly exhilarating."
He quickly made a name for himself with his collections of humorous verse for children, including Wouldn't You Like to Know, You Tell Me and Quick, Let's Get Out of Here. Michael was fundamental in opening up children's access to poetry: both through his own writing and with important anthologies such as Culture Shock.
He has also had a very distinguished broadcasting career, presenting such programmes as BBC Radio 4's Treasure Islands, BBC Radio 3's Best Words and Meridian - the World Service Arts programme.
Watch video clip of Michael Rosen on The Book Show >>
If you want to read the first chapter of Michael Rosen’s book, visit LoveReading.co.uk.
