Michael Rosen wins Hans Christian Anderson Award

Michael Rosen is the 2026 Hans Christian Anderson Award Winner for Writing. The former children’s laureate and our former student is the fourth Briton to win the award.

After graduating from Oxford, Michael Rosen (English 1965) published his debut poetry collection, Mind Your Own Business in 1974. He has since written over 200 books — for children and adults — often collaborating with illustrators including Quentin Blake, Tony Ross, and Helen Oxenbury. As Children’s Laureate (2007–2009), Michael championed poetry in classrooms and his YouTube readings have turned poems into shared, joyful experiences. In 2025, Michael Rosen Day (November 13) was celebrated — a testament to his enduring impact on poetry for children. Michael Rosen’s Sad Book (2004) responds to the death of his son; Sticky McStick (2021), illustrated by Tony Ross, reflects his recovery from serious illness. The Missing (2020) and On the Move (2024) explore family history, war, and migration.

Michael Rosen is a professor of children’s literature at Goldsmiths, University of London. He hosts BBC’s Word of Mouth and writes for major publications.

We were honoured to welcome Michael back to Wadham in 2023 for a 'Wadham in the World' event hosted by our Warden, Robert Hannigan. The audience in a packed Holywell Music Room enjoyed hearing about Michael's life, career, and experiences. The event is available to watch on our YouTube channel.

Michael was appointed an honorary fellow of Wadham in 2024. Many congratulations to him on his latest achievement of winning the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen award!