I Am Angry
Age 3+
Picture Storybooks
The first in a funny new series from former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen and rising star Robert Starling for younger children.
This kitten may look cute and cuddly, but better beware: they're angry. Really angry. Angry, angry, angry! And this isn't any old "angry". This is a jump-up-and-down, roll-on-the-ground kind of angry. This is a spider-scaring, tiger-scaring kind of angry. This is a burst-balloon-ing, SQUASH-THE-MOON-ING kind of angry...
As surreal as things may get, this is also the kind of angry that parents of toddlers will recognize – a bad mood which comes out of nowhere, escalates wildly, then disappears as suddenly as it arrived. Based on the popular poem from A Great Big Cuddle, I Am Angry combines Michael Rosen's brilliant rhymes and anarchic imagination, Robert Starling's perfect knack for character and a reassuring message: anger may feel overpowering, but it doesn't last for ever.
Creators
Michael Rosen is one of the most popular authors for children; his bestselling titles published by Walker Books include We're Going on a Bear Hunt, A Great Big Cuddle and Michael Rosen’s Sad Book. A popular radio broadcaster, distinguished critic and academic, and multi-award-winning poet, Michael was appointed the Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and is now Professor of Children's Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London. He lives in London.
Robert Starling is a children's book author and illustrator, a former primary school teacher and a star on the rise. His bestselling debut, Fergal is Fuming, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Award; this was followed by Fergal in a Fix! and Super Sloth, after which Robert joined forces with author Smriti Prasadam-Halls on The Little Island, a timely political fable. He lives in Norwich.
Reviews
The many characters who are affected by this kitten are beautifully illustrated in bold vibrant colour. I love the expressions of the tiger and kangaroo on one double page spread. Parents of young children will recognise this anger, when a tired little one cannot be reasoned with no matter what. It is a fun story with a happy ending.
Sharon Greenaway Reviews
A very funny, laugh out loud look at anger and its various guises, readers will recognise many of the antics, seen both in themselves and displayed by those around them….The resolution of the story will bring sighs of recognition and empathy, especially so with the wonderful illustrations, showing a ferocious cat with the angriest look on its face, shown on the wonderful first endpapers with just the eyes, mouth and eyebrows, then the last endpapers showing a kitten at rest. Readers will enjoy looking closely at the illustrations, seeing how so much is told through a few well placed strokes, and how the anger is displayed so well, while the background is detailed and funny.
ReadPlus
The first in a new four-book series, I Am Angry brilliantly captures toddlers’ sudden, seismic mood shifts, from the stirrings of anger to full-blown outbursts…A fun, relatable story that can be enjoyed by little and big people, and one that would make a great animated series.
CBCA: Reading Time
