Michael Rosen’s Sad Book by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Quentin Blake

from Michael Rosen’s Sad Book by Michael Rosen and illustrated by the grand Quentin Blake. I bought this book in 2005 when things were messy…it’s a strange but oddly magnificent book. You don’t feel like you’re reading about melancholy, but instead painful and very intimately experienced grief. This is supposed to be a children’s book (published by Walker, who do many great children’s books and who I did a week’s work experience with as a teenager) but as with many “kids’ books” it really is for everyone.

Anyway, I don’t have my copy with me but I sort of miss it tonight. Even though I’m going home in a couple of days. 

The New York Times’ children’s book section reviewed one of my favourite books of 2011, Stuck by the mighty Oliver Jeffers. Perfect for children and adults everywhere ;)

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

— quite possibly the picture book of the year, facing stiff competition only from Stuck by Oliver Jeffers.