A couple of years ago we met the author Michael Rosen on an organised ‘bear hunt’ in the woods. It was all about an initiative with Highland Spring to get the nation writing the longest ever fairytale and we had the most splendid day with Michael who read to the children and was exactly how he seems on screen. He made us smile from the minute we got there until the minute we left and even though it was such a long time ago, they still remember it because it was one of those things that was something and nothing all rolled into one. It doesn’t take much to go hunting for bears in the woods, just a little imagination and although we had Michael with us, which was the something and not the nothing, we came away knowning we’d do it again on our own. And we have. Lots of times.

We also read his book ‘We’re Going On A Bear Hunt’ quite often too, which, thanks to that day, has a little message to us inside from Michael. It was first published in 1989 when I would have been too old to read it for myself really but somehow, I DO have memories of it from my own childhood. Perhaps I remember reading it to my little brothers or cousins, I don’t know but it’s certainly etched in there in my memory bank as I know it will be for Florence and Jimmy too. I’m so pleased, it’s a wonderful book and when you meet the author you can totally see why it’s so brilliant. He kind of exudes this creative, artisitc light that makes you want to just stare at him. He’s not just an author, poet and presenter, he’s a performer and his stories are his performances on page.

This week we were invited to meet with Michael again at his new interactive story telling exhibition which is based in Stratford’s Discover Story Centre. We visit Discover often and have been members since Florence was tiny so we’ve seen quite a few of their exhibitions and had lots of fun there over the years. We still remember the Charlie and Lola one, then Monsters, Super Heroes and Space. We didn’t want any one of them to go and Oliver jeffers, the one prior to this was awesome too but we didn’t feel quite so sad when it left this time… Because we KNEW Michael Rosen’s one would be EVEN better!

The exhibition is a step into the world of Michael Rosen’s Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake and Bad Things! It explores the fantastic stories and poems of the former Children’s Laureate and bestselling writer and children and families are invited to discover immersive environments inspired by his books.

You can go inside a huge chocolate cake, discover a secret larder, swishy swashy through a Bear Hunt and explore Bad Things in the Dread Shed. Younger children will be able to participate in a Bear Hunt trail whilst older children can go on a fun fact finding mission and create poems of their own to takeaway.

Michael has collaborated on the project, and the exhibition will feature hidden rooms where clues can be found that reveal the inspiration behind Michael’s writing, including his Grandparent’s sitting room and his childhood classroom. The award winning author says: “This exhibition is one of the most exciting things to have happened in my writing career. I am someone who has found a way of writing that is often about digging up stuff to do with my past and here is DISCOVER making that into a giant exhibition that families and schools will be able to explore. Just as exciting for me, as someone who works with children and students, is the idea that this exhibition will act as a springboard for children, teachers and parents to talk together about things that they remember or think up, and this, I hope, will turn into writing and performing new poems and stories. I am so looking forward to it.”

Michael Rosen’s Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake and Bad Things will reflect Michael’s energy and passion for education, creativity and writing; and the colourful illustrations of his books down to a scary cave and – the giant bear! Another exciting development for DISCOVER CHİLDREN’S STORY CENTRE is that Michael Rosen’s Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake and Bad Things will be touring the nationwide from April 2016.

Jimmy thought it was wonderful, we didn’t have long but he took such delight in the time we did have exploring the egg drop, story area and sweeping up bits in the woods. I can’t wait to go back with Florence as I know she will enjoy it so much too but of course will take something else away from it that her little brother can’t just yet. Florence is such a good reader for five and writes stories of her own ALL the time. I just know this is going to inspire her even more. As a family we love this place. Sometimes it gets things wrong, doesn’t everyone? But on the whole they do so much right that anything they do let go slightly askew can be forgiven and this exhibition is absolutely perfect – It needs to go on tour because everyone needs to see it, though not just yet as we want it for a while longer please!

What I love about Discover in general is that it’s a place to inspire through play. We have the luxury of being able to pop in when we walk past but we also like to go and make a day of it when we can too because it really IS full to the rafters with things to do both inside and out, all based primarily on stories, words, books and brilliance. Membership is valuable to us because we get so much out of it and the people who work there, the ones on the shop floor so to speak, are blinking amazing! The storytelling team are actors really and they work so hard, they know my children by name we visit so often and it means something, it really does. This place is a gem in London made only ever more sparkly by the new exhibition!

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