Harrow Chronicle: Muswell Hill author Michael Rosen has won the Hans Christian Andersen Award for his lifelong contribution to children's literature – but missed the news because of an expired passport.
Muswell Hill author Michael Rosen has won a major international award recognising his lifelong contribution to children's literature. The former children's laureate joins fellow Britons Eleanor Farjeon, and David Almond, alongside Astrid Lindgren, Tove Jansson, and Maurice Sendak in winning the Hans Christian Andersen award named after the legendary Danish author. But the author of books such as We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake was prevented from attending the award announcement at the Bologna Children's Book Fair by a passport rule banning travel if the document is issued more than 10 years ago. Posting on X he wrote: "“Ha! I’ve just been refused entry on to a plane from Stansted to Bologna because my passport issue date is March 2016. The expiry date is August 2026 but the rule is 10 years from issue date. Another Brexit benefit.” Rosen reportedly returned to north London to receive a phone call informing him of his win. The ceremony itself takes place in Canada in August and The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) said Rosen was chosen from 78 candidates across 44 countries by an international jury of ten experts. Posting on Instagram they wrote: "Celebrated for his extraordinary ability to speak to children with honesty, humour, and respect. From poetry to non-fiction, Rosen’s work combines playfulness with emotional depth, inviting young readers to explore complex themes of history, family, and identity." A post shared by Michael Rosen (@iammichaelrosen) The north Londoner told his Instagram followers: "Many thanks to IBBY for giving me this award. Much honoured, means a huge lot to me." Rosen, who was born in Pinner in Harrow, celebrates his 80th birthday on May 7 this year with a new collection of poems titled 80 Years Young and a brand-new live show called NICE "for all ages, from the young to the young at heart". He added: "I’ll be looking back at a lifetime in poetry, performing favourites such as Hot Food, No Breathing, and Chocolate Cake, along with never-before-heard poems from my upcoming collection 80 Years Young." Posting congratulations on their social media accounts Haringey Libraries wrote: "Celebrating this year's recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for his contribution to Children's Literature – Michael Rosen has been recognised for his commitment to writing for children and young people over decades, Well done Michael!"