Uncle Gobb and the Dread Shed

Michael Rosen, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, £5.99

Many readers know Michael Rosen from his time as Children’s Laureate or as the man who took on Michael Gove with his “Dear Michael Gove” letters in The Guardian (he is now writing to Gove’s successor Nicky Morgan).

But Rosen has a long pedigree as a socialist and activist. His parents were both in the Communist Party from a Jewish East End background. One grandfather was a union organiser and stood for the Socialist Party of America in the 1920s in Pennsylvania.

Rosen’s books for kids are anarchic, joyful and full of life.

In his latest book, illustrated by Neal Layton, Malcolm is in all ways an ordinary 10-year-old. This is a perfectly ordinary story featuring Malcolm, his very bossy uncle, some baked beans, a school which tries to make interesting things BORING, the famed Italian city of Ponky, and a genie who appears when you rub your nose.

It also includes lots of very useful facts, many of which are untrue. And if Gobb sounds just a little bit like a certain education secretary, it must be a coincidence surely?

A dangerous book for dangerous times. Kids will love it. 

Reviews contributed by the Bookmarks socialist bookshop.

www.bookmarksbookshop.co.uk