Maybe you recognise their names, or maybe you don't, but you probably know their internationally acclaimed picture book, We're Going On a Bear Hunt.
Michael and Helen are back with another collaboration, their first in more than 30 years.
It's called Oh Dear, Look What I Got!
In it, a child's trip to the shop to buy a carrot turns into a succession of mistakes.
Instead of a carrot, the child returns with a parcel which when unwrapped reveals a parrot. It's certainly not what they wanted. On another trip to the shop, this time to get a hat, the parcel is revealed to be a cat. I'm sure you get the idea. There's also a goat, a bear, and a snake, amongst others!Oh Dear, Look What I Got! is a fantastic cumulative adventure that may result in children descending into giggles. Amidst the fun of guessing what's ahead, there's lots of scope for language learning, as the story is packed full of rhyme.
Just like We're Going On a Bear Hunt, Oh Dear, Look What I Got! also has lots of repetition and a special rhythm which works best when read aloud, and given anticipatory pauses in all the right places. The page turns help with that.
Helen Oxenbury's recognisable style is put to great effect, with lots of white space focusing your attention on the characters, and action that builds with Michael Rosen's clever text.
Oh Dear, Look What I Got! is a classic, playful picture book. Highly recommended. I'm thrilled to add this story to my home library.
Visit the publisher's website to download a story time kit and watch a short video of the author and illustrator reading the first few pages of the book.
Title: Oh Dear, Look What I Got!
Author: Michael Rosen
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Publisher: Walker Books, $ 24.99
Publication Date: September 2025
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book
