Michael Rosen to Launch New Book at Seven Stories

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. But the way we've been taught often excludes all sorts of practical ways of finding out about ideas, knowledge and culture - anything from cooking to fixing loo cisterns, from dance to model making, from collecting leaves to playing 'Who am I?'. The great thing is that you really can use everything around you to learn more.

Learning should 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. Forget lists, passing tests and ticking boxes, the world outside the classroom can't be contained within the limits of any kind of curriculum - and it's all the better for it.

Speaking about his event at Seven Stories, Michael Rosen said, “I hope Good Ideas and this event at Seven Stories will reassure parents about how to enjoy our children’s questions, help parent and children find interesting and intriguing things to do, places to visit, books and magazines to read. Our children are so much more than a set of test scores or exam results.”

Long car journeys, poems about farting, cake baking, even shouting at the TV can teach lessons that will last a lifetime. Packed with enough practical tips, stories and games to inspire a legion of anxious parents and bored children, Good Ideas shows that the best kind of education really does start at home.

Michael Rosen is an acclaimed poet whose many books have won a number of prizes. We're Going on a Bear Hunt has sold over 8,000,000 copies worldwide and he was Children's Laureate between 2007 and 2009. A popular broadcaster, he has presented Radio 4's Word of Mouth since 1996. But he also has a PhD in education, five honorary doctorates and is Professor of Children's Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London. His monthly letter to the education secretary 'Dear Mr Gove', published in the Guardian, has become required reading for parents and teachers.

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Media Contact
For images, quotes or interviews please contact:
Lauren Regan, Marketing and Digital Co-ordinator
Seven Stories, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle. NE1 2PQ.
T: 0845 271 0777 ext. 223
E: lauren.regan-ingram@sevenstories.org.uk

Notes to Editor:

Seven Stories – National Centre for Children’s Books.

Seven Stories is the only place in Britain dedicated to the art of children’s books and the joy of reading, and one of just a few such places in the world. Our work is enjoyed by over 150,000 people every year.
Everything we do aims to inspire children and gown-ups to be curious, imaginative and creative. We strive to ensure that people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can take part to enjoy a lifetime of reading for pleasure.
Our home is a carefully converted Victorian warehouse in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. We opened in 2005 and our seven floors house galleries for exhibitions, performances and creative spaces, a specialist children’s bookshop and a café.
Seven Stories is widely recognised for our abilities and achievements. We have established an important collection of artwork, manuscripts and archives of Britain’s most acclaimed writers and illustrators for children from 1930s to the present day. We bring this unique treasure trove to life through playful and immersive exhibitions, an entertaining and informative public events programme and research opportunities.
Seven Stories was awarded National status by Arts Council England in 2012 in recognition of the significance of our Collection and its high standard of care, and the excellent way that we engage with our visitors and users. We were also awarded with a National Lottery Award in September 2013 after being voted the UK’s favourite education project.

Michael Rosen
Michael Rosen is uniquely placed to write this book. He is a former Children's Laureate and the bestselling author of We're Going on a Bear Hunt (which won the Smarties Best Book of the Year Award) and many other books. He has also presented Word of Mouth on BBC Radio4 since 1998. But he also has a Phd in Education, been awarded five extra honorary doctorates by various universities and made Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature) by the French government. In 2013 he became Professor of Education Studies at Goldsmiths.

Find out more on Michael's website:www.michaelrosen.co.uk