The Missing: The True Story of My Family in World War II

*As heard on The Jeremy Vine Show* *As heard on The Cerys Matthews Show* "Michael Rosen is a master of pace and clarity... Essential reading." - The Times, Children's Book of the Week "Five stars ... extraordinary and affecting. " - The Telegraph, Children's Book of the Week "Rosen handles the difficult topic as sensitively and thoughtfully as you would expect, always writing in a straightforward and accessible way for children." - BookTrust, the UK's largest reading charity A personal, powerful and resonant account of the Holocaust by one of this country's best-loved children's authors. By turns charming, shocking and heart-breaking, this is the true story of Michael Rosen's search for his relatives who "went missing" during the Second World War - told through prose, poetry, maps and pictures. When Michael was growing up, stories often hung in the air about his great-uncles: one was a clock-mender and the other a dentist. They were there before the war, his dad would say, and weren't after. Over many years, Michael tried to find out exactly what happened: he interviewed family members, scoured the internet, pored over books and traveled to America and France. The story he uncovered was one of terrible persecution - and it has inspired his poetry for years since. Here, poems old and new are balanced against an immensely readable narrative; both an extraordinary account and a powerful tool for talking to children about the Holocaust. Supported and checked by the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education. "Fascinating, chilling and poignantly personal" - Financial Times "The Missing may ostensibly concern the Holocaust but, as Rosen makes clear, this is a book about facing down prejudice, defying those who would sow the seeds of hatred and opening our arms to those in need." - Independent

Children's Laureate 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?. He is a distinguished critic and academic, presents radio programmes for the BBC and is a political commentator. Michael lives in London. Follow him on Twitter under the handle @MichaelRosenYes.