On the Move: Poems About Migration
Age 9+
Poetry History & The Past: General Interest
"What you leave behind / Won't leave your mind. / But home is where you find it. / Home is where you find it."
Former Children's Laureates Michael Rosen and Sir Quentin Blake join forces for a landmark new collection, focusing on migration and displacement. Michael’s poems are divided into four: in the first series, he draws on his childhood as part of a first-generation Polish family living in London; in the second, on his perception of the War as a young boy; in the third, on his “missing” relatives and the Holocaust; and in the fourth, and final, on global experiences of migration. By turns charming, shocking and heart-breaking, this is an anthology with a story to tell and a powerful point to make: “You can only do something now.”
Resources
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, Little Rabbit Foo Foo, Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, Tiny Little Fly and What Is Poetry?. Michael received the Eleanor Farjeon Award for distinguished services to children’s literature in 1997, and was the Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009. He presents radio programmes for the BBC, and is a political commentator.
Quentin Blake is one of the world’s foremost illustrators, particularly renowned for his collaboration with Roald Dahl. His books have won numerous awards, including the Whitbread Prize, the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. In 1999 he was appointed the first Children’s Laureate, and in 2013 he received a knighthood for his services to illustration.
Reviews
Enhanced by timeless pen and ink drawings from fellow former Children’s Laureate, Quentin Blake, this is a deeply moving, enduring poetry collection. In an insightful introduction, Rosen describes migration as an intrinsic part of human history, which has led to the development of richly diverse societies around the world.
BookTrust
Blake’s haunting drawings complement Rosen’s compelling words beautifully in this very accessible volume.
The Independent
Best: Powerful anthology.The prolific Michael Rosen joined forces with fellow former children’s laureate Sir Quentin Blake to produce this powerful book of poems about migration. […] Blake’s haunting drawings complement Rosen’s compelling words beautifully in this very accessible volume.
The Independent
[…] powerful collection of poems
Bookseller
At once commemorative, historical, political and celebratory, Michael’s poems herein have a straightforward power that is echoed in Quentin Blake’s black and white illustrations that have a haunting quality of their own.
Red Reading Hub
