...to dislike Michael Rosen's poetry?

[Nemo1986]

I mean, I just.... don't think it's very good. Clearly he has massive appeal, but I just. don't. get. it.

Anyone else?

[RandomDent]

I find it very hit and miss. Bear Hunt wasn't even his originally. I like the ones in Bananas In My Ears though.

[Gallopingourmet]

I can't comment on his poetry but after his DS died suddenly he wrote this book called Sad. He seems to have effortlessly put into words how so many feel, myself and my own DS included, when someone you love very much dies.

[HarryDresdensLeatherDuster]

Sorry, I know it takes all sorts, but you're nuts! I love his poems and his performances. 'The Sad Book' is very powerful and how can you not enjoy 'Chocolate Cake'??

[DollyMcDolly]

I had never heard of him until my 8 year son started watching all his videos on YouTube. His favourite is Chocolate Cake. He usually hates poems and stuff like that. I'm pleased.

[SolomanDaisy]

I love Michael Rosen's books, luckily as so does DS. Things like 'Our House' so have great themes for kids. DS mostly prefers longer books now, but he makes a regular exception for Happy Harry's Cafe.

On the other hand, if he's written a Poem for Corbyn I don't know about (not unlikely given his politics), it probably is a bit shit.

[Justonemorecupoftea]

Chocolate Cake had my boys giggling and helped make poetry a good thing for them. For this I love him

[Nemo1986]

I know, I am weird.
But to my mind 'Chocolate cake' is really annoying because it's not really a poem, it's a story! Why has he chosen to make it a poem rather than a short story? What does it gain by being chopped up into about 60 short lines instead of a paragraph?

[TheKitchenWitch]

I agree. I do not get it all.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

I don't get it either really. Never found a Michael Rosen poem I loved, though I very much like the fact that he is willing to speak out about education and politics.

[Backingvocals]

Agree. I find it charmless. Chopping up prose into bits does not equate to poetry

[PeaceOfWildThings]

Do you also dislike his politics, OP, and does that have some influence on your distaste for his poems?

[Palomb]

I don't like it either and Bear Hunt is one of the dullest books ever written

[Nemo1986]

Peaceofwildthings- Absolutely not, I am a hard-core socialist! I admire Michael Rosen as a person. I just do not like his poetry. At all.

[Nemo1986]

Palomb- You have absolutely no idea how wonderful it is to know I am not the only human (let alone Primary teacher) not to be in love with Bear Hunt.

[Triskel]

I think you are being a bit unreasonable. Try buying his CDs where he reads them. Children love them. Better still a video so that you can see his face.

[JustDanceAddict]

I like his poems, but I don't agree with him politically. He's very left-wing. I also hate Bear Hunt - thankfully my kids are older now, so I never have to read it again!

[YokoUhOh]

YABU.

Poetry doesn't have to rhyme, it can have an irregular metre, it's all about the sound/feel of the words in Michael Rosen's case. DS1 loves him (so do I!).

The way he encourages children to write and play with language is inspirational (my mum was taught a unit on Children's Literature by him at uni).

[YokoUhOh]

I don't agree with his support of Corbyn (despite being left wing myself) but he is absolutely right about education policy, specifically literacy.

[Maudlinmaud]

My students love his work. They also love to watch his clips on youtube. I think he is great fun.

[MistressMerryWeather]

DS has just discovered Rosen thanks to his P5 teachers and we love him.

His poetry and stories have such a wonderful energy to them.

[MistressMerryWeather]

I agree his youtube clips are brilliant, Maud.

[Maudlinmaud]

And Bear Hunt is a wonderful book. All those lovely sounds to play with.

[Branleuse]

NO BREATHING IN CLASS

[Maudlinmaud]

Branleuse classic!!!!
Im the youngest in our house.