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

Michael Rosen is a multi-award-winning poet, a popular radio broadcaster, distinguished critic and academic, and one of the most popular authors for children. He has written over 200 books in a career spanning over five decades, including the internationally bestselling We're Going on a Bear Hunt, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. His poems, about family life, childhood and a good deal of silliness, have reached millions through his exuberant online readings. Michael was the Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and is now Professor of Children's Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London.