Peas on Your Knees: A Life in the Poems of Michael Rosen: The ultimate illustrated collection of the best-loved poems from the nation’s favourite family poet and YouTube sensation - Hardcover

Rosen, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1529525845 ISBN 13: 9781529525847

Publisher: Walker Books, 2026

Synopsis

The ultimate treasury of Michael Rosen's best-loved poems, brought together for the first time in one beautifully illustrated collection.

Celebrate the very best of Michael Rosen in a gorgeous gift edition illustrated by a selection of award-winning artists. This collection brings together for the first time popular poems such as "Chocolate Cake", "Hot Food" and "No Breathing in Class!". From the hilarious to the heart-warming, Michael's poems about childhood, family and friendships will inspire a love of reading and rhyme. The perfect selection to read aloud, join in with and learn by heart, this is a book that will be treasured by all generations, for years to come.

About this title

About the Authors

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.

Joseph Coelho was the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2022–2024, and is an award-winning poet, playwright and writer. In 2024 he won the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing for The Boy Lost in the Maze and was awarded an OBE for his services to the arts, to children’s reading and to literature. His first poetry collection, Werewolf Club Rules!, , won the CLPE Children's Poetry Award in 2015, and he has been writing and performing ever since. His picture books include If All the World Were... illustrated by Allison Colpoys and the Luna Loves... series illustrated by Fiona Lumbers. His poetry books for children include Overheard in a Tower Block illustrated by Kate Milner, A Year of Nature Poems illustrated by Kelly Louise Judd, and his novel in verse, The Girl Who Became a Tree. Originally from London, he now lives in Edinburgh. Follow him on X as @JosephACoelho and on Instagram as @josephcoelhoauthor.

Yasmeen Ismail is an award-winning illustrator and animator who has a love of inks, paints and watercolours. Her debut picture book Time for Bed, Fred! won The New York Times' Best Illustrated Book Award and the V&A Best Illustrated Book Award, and was longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Her previous books for Walker include Kiki & Bobo's Birthday Surprise and Kiki & Bobo's Sunny Day. Yasmeen is originally from Ireland, but now lives in Bristol.

Polly Dunbar is an award-winning author-illustrator whose books for Walker include Red, Red, Red, A Lion Is a Lion and the bestselling Penguin. She has also illustrated books by novelists David Almond and Michael Morpurgo, poets Michael Rosen and Raymond Antrobus and her mother, picture-book author Joyce Dunbar. Her most recent book is Put Your Shoes On. Follow her on Instagram: @PollyDunbar.

A children's author and illustrator, most well-known for his illustratrations for books by Roald Dahl.

Edition details

• Publisher: Walker Books
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1529525845
• ISBN 13: 9781529525847
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Ismail Yasmeen, Dunbar Polly, Blake Quentin, Wilson-Max Ken, Graham Bob
• Number of pages: 128