Michael Rosen was born in Middlesex in 1946 and studied English Language and Literature at Oxford University. He started out as a trainee at the BBC, working in radio drama, and on Play School and Schools Television before going to the National Film School. Since 1976, he has been writing, performing, teaching and appearing on radio and television as well as writing for The Guardian. Among his many children’s books is the multi-award-winning We're Going On a Bear Hunt. Michael was one of the first poets to visit schools and is committed to the teaching of writing and the reading of literature in schools. He won the 1997 Eleanor Farjeon Award for distinguished services to children's literature, was appointed the Children's Laureate for 2007-2009 and received the JM Barrie Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.