The Missing | Kids Poems and Stories with Michael Rosen

A personal, powerful and resonant account of the Holocaust by Micheal Rosen one of the 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.

Explore the poignant account of the Holocaust by renowned children’s author, Michael Rosen. Uncover the true story of Rosen's quest to find relatives who disappeared during World War II, narrated through a compelling blend of prose, poetry, maps, and visuals.

Delve into family tales of clock-menders and dentists before the war, and follow Michael Rosen's years-long journey of research through interviews, online searches, books, and international travels. The revealed narrative unveils a harrowing tale of persecution, inspiring Rosen's poetry for years.

This collection features a mix of old and new poems intertwined with an engaging narrative, offering an extraordinary firsthand account and a valuable resource for discussing the Holocaust with children.

Supported and checked by the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education.