When I was a boy, I thought my dad knew everything...
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The Blurb
Young Michael thinks his dad knows everything. But then one day, one terrible day, he found that his dad does NOT know everything: this is how it goes. They sit down to eat, and the potato’s a bit hot. Michael knows to blow on it to cool it down before eating it. His brother knows it, and his mum knows it. So why does his dad pop it straight into this mouth? And what happens next? A funny slice of family life, told in irresistible repetitive text, that will delight young and old alike.
My Review
This has come from Michael Rosen's book of Nice poems.
I have a soft spot for any work by this author as I remember how much my children and I enjoyed sharing his poems when they were young. Happy days. Now, I have the joy of sharing them with my grandchildren too. They will absolutely love this picture book.
As always, the author has written a poem whereby he understands how children think. The overgrown child in me laughed out loud while I read this poem. Michael Rosen captures the spirit of the child in his words.
It has been beautifully illustrated by Neal Layton in a simple design which really add something to the text. The bright colours will appeal to young children and I could almost feel the heat emanating from the illustrations of his pile of hot potato.
This lovely picture book deserves to be in every home and school library. I highly recommend it.
UPDATE: I recently spent a weekend with two of my grandchildren who are 2 and 4 years old. I lost count of how many times they asked me to read this book to them. A wonderful book for sharing.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1529530223
Publisher: Walker Books
Formats: e-book and paperback
No. of Pages: 32 (paperback)
Purchase Links
Bookshop.org
Amazon UK
Amazon US
About the Author
Michael Rosen is a multi-award-winning poet, a popular radio broadcaster, distinguished critic and academic, and one of the most popular authors for children. He has written over 200 books in a career spanning over five decades, including the internationally bestselling We're Going on a Bear Hunt, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.
His poems, about family life, childhood and a good deal of silliness, have reached millions through his exuberant online readings. In 2026 he won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for writing (the first UK winner for 16 years), as well as a British Book Award for Best Children's Illustrated & Non-Fiction Book of the Year for his new collaboration with Helen Oxenbury, Oh Dear, Look What I Got!
Michael was the Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and is now Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London.
You can also find Michael at:
Author Website
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Instagram
Bluesky
You Tube
About the Illustrator
Born in Chichester, multi award-winning author and Illustrator Neal Layton works on a plethora of publications for children from his treasure-filled studio in the Isle of Wight.
A former student at Newcastle and Central St Martins, Neal has become an avid collector and compulsive scribbler, deftly combining a multitude of styles and techniques in colour and black and white, from pen and ink to collage and digital methods creating fresh and spontaneous illustrations for fiction, non-fiction and novelty books. With a clutch of awards under his belt including the prestigious Sheffield Children’s Book Prize Neal has been lucky enough to collaborate with some of the country’s best loved authors including Nicola Davies, Cressida Cowell, Andy Stanton and Michael Rosen.
Neal is extremely passionate about conservation and inclusivity and this shines through in many of his recent author-illustrated publications. Well versed in discussing and demonstrating his work, Neal takes part in a variety of events including large scale festivals and conferences.
Amazing Fact – Neal Layton is also an extreme skateboarder.
You can also find Neal at:
Instagram
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The Tour at School (Because You're the New Kid!) by Katie Clapham
Not Pop Pop by Angela De Groot
(book and media courtesy of Walker Books)
(all opinions are my own)
(Bookshop.org affiliated)
