Celebrated children’s author Michael Rosen delighted fans with an appearance at a packed literary event as he posted about enjoying his weekend in Kent.
The writer, who is known for his large collection of novels and poetry, was the guest star of the evening at St Mary’s Arts Centre in Sandwich on Friday.
The event was organised by Sarah Forde and delivered in collaboration with Abigail Worthington, owner of the town’s bookshop Spellbound, which opened last year.
It included Michael reading from his new book Good Days: An A-Z of Hope and Happiness, which was released last September.
On Saturday, the author took to Facebook to update fans about the visit to the town and popping into Spellbound.
The event’s billing said: “In an uncertain world, we need hope and happiness more than ever. So what are the words that can help us find it?
“Let Michael Rosen take you on a quest for joy in his dictionary of delights, where each letter of the alphabet offers us a moment of daily enchantment.
“Celebrate the magic of the small things that bring hope and happiness into our lives.”
Speaking after the event, Mayor of Sandwich, Cllr Emmet Csuka described it as a “special evening”.
He added: “St Mary’s was packed, and the audience really enjoyed the author’s wit and storytelling.
“It was a pleasure to meet Michael in person and to thank him for such an entertaining evening.
“Huge credit must go to Sarah and Abbey for the dedication and hard work they invested in bringing this wonderful event to our community.”
After finding success in the 1970s and 1980s with some of his earliest books, Michael, 79, has achieved the PEN Pinter Prize in 2023 and the JM Barrie Award in 2021.
He was appointed Children’s Laureate from 2007 to 2009 and, during this time, set up the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, to recognise humorous books written for younger audiences. The award was won by the likes of Andy Stanton to Louise Rennison.
He is also the BBC Radio 4 presenter of Treasure Islands.
Michael last appeared in Kent at Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks, last September as part of a tour for his new book.
