Showing results by author "Michael Rosen"

Welcome to Prague, 1970: ground zero in a Cold War of spies and sorcerers. The streets are a deadly chessboard on which the CIA and KGB make their moves, little dreaming that a deeper game is being played between the Consortium of Ice and the Acolytes of Flame, ancient organizations that seek to harness elemental magic. Tanya Morozova is a KGB officer and the latest in a long of Ice sorceresses; Gabe Pritchard is a CIA officer and reluctant Ice recruit. Enemies at one turn, but forced into alliances at the next, their relationship is as explosive as the Cold War itself.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, unique tales inspired by traditional literary forms appeared frequently in socialist-leaning British periodicals, such as the Clarion, Labour Leader, and Social Democrat. Based on familiar genres, these stories were meant to entertain readers of all ages - and some challenged the conventional values promoted in children’s literature for the middle class. Acclaimed critic and author Michael Rosen brings together more than 40 of the best and most enduring examples of these stories in one beautiful volume.

A darkly comic noir about a chicken living in a world of anthropomorphic eggs who's wanted for a murder he didn't commit. Life is tough for an embry. Considered a vestigial organ at best and a parasite at worst, chicken embryos are usually aborted by the egg folk early in life. Once in a while, one survives and slips through, hatching into an embry, an ostracized, lower caste anthropomorphic chicken. They have their own ghettos, and are barely tolerated by polite society.

Harry Gruber plays the role of Scrooge in his school's production of A Christmas Carol, and he is extra nervous about tonight's performance because his father is in the audience - not away for business, as usual. Will the story's message of Christmas cheer and the redemptive power of love reach his father's distracted Scrooge heart? 

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 forever. How on earth did we fix upon our 26 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 26 vivid chapters, fizzing with personal anecdotes and fascinating facts.

Through a deft compilation of primary sources—letters, memoirs, and personal accounts from composers, librettists, and performers—Michael Rose re-creates for his readers the circumstances that gave rise to fifteen operatic milestones. From Monteverdi and Mozart to Puccini and Berg, each chapter focuses on a well-known opera and tells the story that lies behind its creation.

Perfect for commuter train rides, rush-hour gridlock, Pilates workouts, or any time when levity might add to the very quality of life. With inimitable contributions by Merrill Markoe, Dave Barry, Garry Trudeau, and Bruce McCall, you have a triumphant salute to one of America's greatest assets: its sense of humor.

The exceptional talents behind some of the nation’s best-loved books - from The Gruffalo to The BFG, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt to the Charlie and Lola series - the Children’s Laureates are the perfect ambassadors for children’s literature. It’s been 20 wonderful years of the Laureateship and now all 10 former honourees have banded together to celebrate the only way they know how: through stories and poems. 

A family - a mother, a father, and their 10-year-old son - have come all the way from Florida to the Appalachian foothills to experience the wonder of a snowy weekend. But when a blizzard suddenly descends, the family finds themselves trapped outside, disoriented in the whiteout and the waist-deep snowdrifts. Panicked, exhausted, and freezing, they cry out for help.

In this hilarious, moving memoir, much-loved children's poet and political campaigner Michael Rosen recalls the first 23 years of his life. The audiobook ends with a letter to his father and the revelation of a heartbreaking family secret.

Learning can be much more fun - and former children's laureate, million-selling author, broadcaster, father of five, and all-round national treasure Michael Rosen wants to show you how. We live in a world surrounded by all the stuff that education is supposed to be about: machines, bodies, languages, cities, votes, mountains, energy, movement, plays, food, liquids, collisions, protests, stones, windows.

A collection of quirky and hilarious tales by Tony Ross and the former Children's Laureate, Michael Rosen, including 'Burping Bertha', 'Fluff the Farting Fish', 'Bilal's Brilliant Bee' and more.

Shona and her dad are moving house, and at Shona's new school, the rules are pretty confusing; she keeps getting into trouble without realising! It's a lot like how it is for Oliver Twist, that boy she's reading about in English class. After Shona is unexpectedly given a mobile phone, she begins to suspect there's something fishy about the new boys she's met. Where did the phone come from? And some gifts, she soon learns, aren't exactly free....

The second hilarious and irresistible collection of stories from two of the best-known figures in the children's book world, Michael Rosen and Tony Ross. 'Choosing Crumble': When Terri-Lee goes to the pet-shop she thinks she'll be choosing a dog - she doesn't expect the dog to be choosing her! But Crumble is no ordinary pet.... 'Barking for Bagels': Shnipp the dog loves to play fetch with Julie and Lara in the park, but she doesn't love their annoying laughs. So one day she decides to run off!

What’s in the magic story drawer today? Snuggle up with much-loved celebrities as they bring to life a beautiful selection of stories for young children. Includes 'Guess How Much I Love You' by Sam McBratney, read by Emma Alberici, 'Owl Babies' by Martin Waddell, read by Jimmy Giggle and Hoot, 'Too Many Pears' by Jackie French, read by Kumi Taguchi, 'The Little Red Hen and the Grains of Wheat' by Henrietta Barkow, read by Adam Liaw and 'We’re Going on a Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen, read by Osamah Sami.

It was cold, spooky and very boring. Frank hated Friday nights, sitting in the museum while his mum did the cleaning. He felt very alone - until a skeleton came over for a chat! And suddenly the museum didn’t seem quite so boring any more. But after a few chilling encounters with some of the skeleton’s weird and wonderful friends, all Frank really wants is his mum....

This book is not for the faint hearted!Here are seven spine-chilling stories that give a new meaning to the word Nasty!Where ever he goes, Michael Rosen bumps into a chatty old lady who tells him wildly unlikely stories about man-eating fleas on the London tube, grizzly bears roaming the streets, killer wasps and all sorts of tall tales.

Frank isn't much looking forward to the school visit to a local stately home. Still, not even in his worst nightmares did he expect anything like what actually happens! When "Not-Sheba", the servant girl from the picture, just walks out of her frame and demands Frank's help to find out her true identity, Frank realises that there is no escape. Charlie the celebrity-mad mummy doesn't help much either and nor do the Indian statues.