Event overview
Journeying through Grief - ‘Let the Light In’ by Jenny Downham and Louis Hill & ‘One Day’ by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Benjamin Phillips
Professor Michael Rosen will be in conversation with Jenny Downham and Louis Hill about their new YA novel, ‘Let the Light In’ which has been praised as an extraordinary book, tenderly told. Michael Rosen will also be talking about how he came to write his new picturebook, ‘One Day’, and talk to the illustrator, Benjamin Phillips about the process of illustrating his story.
‘Let the Light In’ is a searing, powerful, ultimately uplifting exploration of journeying through grief. Leah and Charlie’s world shattered when their dad died – and they’re handling their grief in very different ways. This astounding, compulsive novel explores love, power, money, art, and asks: what really matters in the end?
‘One Day’ is a poignant and ultimately uplifting picture book based on a true story of escape from a convoy to Auschwitz. “Get through one day and then on to the next. One day at a time. One day after another.” With powerful illustrations from Benjamin Phillips, this sensitive true-story picture book reminds us of the best of people, in the worst of times.
About the Authors of ‘Let the Light In’:
Jenny Downham's first novel, ‘Before I Die’, is an international bestseller. It won the Branford Boase Award, the Australian Silver Inky Award for best international novel, was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and made into the blockbuster film, ‘Now Is Good’. Her fourth novel, ‘Furious Thing’, was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize and the Costa Book Awards. Jenny is an Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing for Children/Young Adults at Goldsmiths.
Louis Hill is a writer and actor. As an actor, his credits include a wide variety of stage, screen and voiceover work. As a writer, he has written a number of plays and short films including his one-man show, ‘Love & Tigers’, which opened to sell-out audiences and 5-star reviews at the Hen and Chickens theatre. His short stories have been featured in publications. ‘Let the Light In’ is his debut novel.
About the author of ‘One Day’
Michael Rosen is one of Britain’s best loved writers and performance poets for children and adults. He is currently Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London where he co-devised and teaches critical approaches to reading on an MA in Children’s Literature. He was the Children’s Laureate from 2007-2009 and has published over 200 books for children and adults.
About the illustrator of ‘One Day’
Benjamin Phillips is an illustrator, artist and author. He creates ceramics, drawings and paintings. He illustrated the graphic novel ‘Alte Zachen’ written by Ziggy Hanaor (2022) and shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration in 2023. He won the ‘Illustration for Children’ category and overall prize of the Moira Gemmill Illustrator of the Year 2024 at the V&A Illustration Awards.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 2025 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm |
Accessibility
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