160,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Late Night Thursday! Our Hobsonville Bookstore is open until 9pm tonight! ✨

Hot Food: Nice!

Michael Rosen’s viral YouTube poem meme with over 4 million views – a laugh-out-loud picture book for ages 3–7 about a hot potato, a clueless dad and a family dinner fiasco!
Brief Description
Michael Rosen’s hilarious viral video poem is brought to life in picture book form by award-winning illustrator Neal Layton. Michael Rosen’s poem about his dad and the too-hot potato is one of the best-known and best-loved of all his poems. Michael’s own performance of the poem... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1899
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Michael Rosen’s hilarious viral video poem is brought to life in picture book form by award-winning illustrator Neal Layton.

Michael Rosen’s poem about his dad and the too-hot potato is one of the best-known and best-loved of all his poems. Michael’s own performance of the poem has even become a meme – Nice! This is the first time the poem has been illustrated in full colour, in a hilarious picture book.

Young Michael thinks his dad knows everything. But then one day, one terrible day, he finds that his dad does NOT know everything: this is how it goes. They sit down to eat, and the potato’s a bit hot. Michael knows to blow on it to cool it down before eating it. His brother knows it, and his mum knows it. So why does his dad pop it straight into his mouth? And what happens next?

A funny slice of family life, told in irresistible repetitive text, that will delight young and old alike.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529530223

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 November 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Walker Books Ltd

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Neal Layton

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 215.0mm

Height: 260.0mm

Weight: 270g

Pages: 32

About the Author

Michael Rosen is one of the most popular authors for children; his bestselling titles published by Walker Books include We're Going on a Bear Hunt, A Great Big Cuddle and Michael Rosen’s Sad Book. A popular radio broadcaster, distinguished critic and academic, and multi-award-winning poet, Michael was appointed the Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and is now Professor of Children's Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Neal Layton is an award-winning illustrator and author of children’s books. He has worked on more than 80 titles to date, working with authors such Cressida Cowell and Michael Rosen, and won several prizes including a Gold Award in the Nestle Children’s Book Prize for That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown. His books have also been shortlisted for the Red House Book Awards, the Blue Peter Book Awards, and the Booktrust Early Years Award. He also writes his own books, such as eco-picture book A Planet Full of Plastic and The Invincible Tony Spears fiction series. Visit his website at www.neallayton.co.uk and follow him on twitter @LaytonNeal.

Also by Michael Rosen

View all
  • We're Going on a Bear Hunt
    For brave hunters and bear-lovers, the classic chant-aloud by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury in a large board book edition. We're Going on a Bear Hunt. We're going to catch a big one. Will you come too? For a quarter of a century, readers have been swishy-swashying and splash-sploshing through this award-winning favourite. Follow and join in the family's excitement...
    Board book
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • We're Going on a Bear Hunt
    For brave hunters and bear-lovers, the classic chant-aloud by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest! We're Going on...
    Paperback
    $1500
    Elsewhere:
    $1695
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Oh Dear, Look What I Got!
    A classic new picture book by the creators of the bestselling We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. "I went to the shop to get me a carrot. Oh dear, they gave me... a parrot! Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No I do NOT!" From beloved author and illustrator pairing Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury comes...
    Hardback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • We're Going on a Bear Hunt: Pull, Slide and Play!
    For bear-lovers and brave hunters everywhere, the classic chant-aloud story by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury is available for young readers as a new interactive board book with easy-to-use pull, slide, and play tabs on every page. We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. Will you come too? Join in all the fun of...
    Board book
    $1700
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • We're Going on a Bear Hunt
    Join in the bear hunt with this fabulous interactive sound book! We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to catch a big one. Will you come too? For thirty-five years, readers have been swishy swashing and splash sploshing through this award-winning favourite. Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river,...
    Hardback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Michael Rosen's Sad Book
    A heartbreakingly honest account of a father’s grief for his son from the illustrious pairing of two former Children’s Laureates. Very occasionally, the term non-fiction has to stretch itself to accommodate a book that fits into no category at all. Michael Rosen's Sad Book is such a book. It chronicles Michael's grief at the death of his son Eddie from...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2199
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • I Am Angry
    The first in a funny new series from former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen and rising star Robert Starling. This kitten may look cute and cuddly, but better beware: they're angry. Really angry. Angry, angry, angry! And this isn't any old "angry". This is a jump-up-and-down, roll-on-the-ground kind of angry. This is a spider-scaring, tiger-scaring kind of angry. This is a...
    Paperback
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    19% off
    We're Going on a Bear Hunt
    For brave hunters and bear-lovers, the classic chant-aloud by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river, and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest! We're Going on...
    Paperback
    $3900
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Michael Rosen's Totally True (and totally silly) Bedtime Stories
    Britain's national treasure Michael Rosen delivers a silly, mind-fizzing collection of heartwarming true tales perfect for bedtime. For kids aged 6 to 106! These totally true (and very silly) stories are the perfect bedtime reading, either to share together or for newly confident readers to read alone. Giggle at the story of dogs who learnt to drive (yes, really), elephants...
    Hardback
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Mad in the Back
    It's the car journey from hell... Support severely struggling readers with this hilarious hi-lo family tale. Two siblings drive their mother to distraction on the car journey from hell, while Mum tries every trick in the book to get them to behave. All together now: “Are we nearly there yet…?” Particularly suitable for readers aged 7+ with a reading age...
    Paperback
    $1699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Michael Rosen's Book of Play
    These days, we seem to have less and less time for play. At school, children are focused on exams, while at home we're all glued to our phones and iPads. Here, Michael Rosen shows us why we need more play in our lives. He explores the influence of play on everyone from Shakespeare to Dickens and Dali, delving into the...
    Hardback
    $3299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Out Of This World
    A brand new collection of poetry by former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen, author of We're Going on a Bear Hunt, with illustrations by acclaimed artist Ed Vere. What would it be like to live in the future? Or underwater? What would you do if you could go back in time? Or be a cat? Or a blood cell? What would...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Children's Books

View all
  • New Release
    Gruffalo Granny
    The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...
    Hardback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Sprinkle in Time: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #15)
    New Release
    A Sprinkle in Time: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #15)
    In the newest saga, our anti-hero, Grandpa, alters the fabric of time and space. Is his evil the necessary soil for Dog Man and friends to grow and bloom? Can we all step up to be the change? It's the saga of the century—Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time!
    Hardback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Fight or Flight: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (21)
    When the going gets tough, what’s a wimpy kid to do? In Fight or Flight, Greg Heffley faces his biggest challenge yet as he becomes a target for the school bully. Luckily for Greg, his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, takes karate, so at least Greg’s got someone in his corner. But an unexpected twist makes Greg realize he’s facing an uphill...
    Paperback
    $1699
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Detective Beans Colouring Club
    New Release
    Detective Beans Colouring Club
    Help Detective Beans solve the case of the missing colours! Join the Colouring Club now! Join the Detective Beans Colouring Club! Inside you'll find 40 removable colouring pages featuring scenes from all over Cat Town. Filled with all the characters you know and love from the Detective Beans graphic novels like Biscuits, Beans' mum, Mr Brickle, Bear, Detective Baby Bird...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Sixth Faction
    Beatrice Prior stands on the brink of a decision every person in her world must make: five factions, five futures, five lives. She has a plan: she's going to make the bravest choice, and leave Abnegation behind to join Dauntless, even though it means leaving her family behind. But when tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, everything changes—her world, her...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Naturals: Dangerous Impulses Book 5
    The Naturals are BACK! No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers the highly anticipated new installment in her beloved Naturals Series. Cassie Hobbes joined the FBI's Naturals program at seventeen because she had an incredible ability to read people. Since then, Cassie, fellow profiler Dean, emotion‐reader Michael, lie‐detector Lia, and statistical genius Sloane have caught serial...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    All of Us
    A new heart-wrenching, well-researched historical novel for middle-grade readers. 'The weirdest thing,' continues Tove, 'is that I don't feel any different to the rest of you.' 'That's because you're not!' snaps Birgitte. 'You're Danish.' 'So why do the Nazis hate me and not you?' When twelve-year-old Viggo and his friends Finn, Tove, Birgitte and Konrad start writing rude letters to...
    Hardback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Star Path
    New Release
    The Star Path
    A young whale searches for the whale rider's heir and a teenager takes an epic voyage to Antarctica with a fleet of waka hourua to claim his lost inheritance, in this breathtaking return to the world of global hit The Whale Rider, over thirty years on. From the internationally acclaimed author of The Whale Rider comes a novel about the...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Wahine
    New Release
    Wahine
    From a majestic mermaid to a clay woman, the creator of glaciers to the mother of gardening, discover powerful wahine and how their stories shaped the world around us. Wahine introduces readers to twelve purakau of brave, bold, and inspiring women of Aotearoa. A beautifully illustrated collection that will delight the whole whanau, from award-winning illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White....
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas
    From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! But this time... it's not about Lottie! From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! And it's CHRISTMAS! In The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks we spent the holiday season with...
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Matihe! Achoo! Matihe! Achoo!
    New Release
    Matihe! Achoo!
    What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...
    Paperback
    $1899
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Sweet As Looky Book
    New Release
    The Sweet As Looky Book
    Can you find all the chocolate fish? Is it possible for kiwi to fly? Can you spot the difference? See Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of award-winning artist Donovan Bixley in The Sweet As Looky Book. Use your finest skills to seek out pirates in the Bay of Islands and birds in Rakiura Stewart Island. Get in a car...
    Hardback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 160,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.