At a recent event at the National Theatre, Michael Rosen launched the Perform a Poem website. This initiative is a joint venture by the former Children's Laureate, Michael Rosen, Booktrust and The London Grid for Learning. The site is set up to provide an opportunity for children to choose, write, perform, film and edit poems.Following the launch, Michael took to the Cottesloe stage for a poetry performance of his own. Pauline Drayons attended for Write Away and sent this report.

Michael Rosen award winning author and champion of children's poetry gave an exuberant and seemingly spontaneous hour of anecdotes, poems and interactive material tailored for primary school children. Being interactive was of the essence and the children enjoyed and enthusiastically joined in the "noises", miming, poems and sayings that Michael engendered. His Jewish humour, mention of Yiddish words were put in context, and his ability to ad lib were all in evidence. Words and actions were perfectly pitched for primary school children. There were also quite a lot of adults in the audience and three primary schools. When asked 'where does broccoli come from?' Michale answered. 'Go into a deep forest and meet the green men - they have broccoli in their armpits and you can pick it from there." A consummate performer, Michael obviously emphathises and loves the children he performs for.

Michael signed copies of his books. One particularly is popular and helpful for learning different kinds of poetry his, A to Z - The Best Children's Poetry from Agard to Zephaniah. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the event. If you can, catch him at another venue sometime.