Michael Rosen’s “You’re Thinking About Tomatoes” adapted as a smashing graphic novel

By John Freeman on October 4, 2022

The fan-favourite story You’re Thinking About Tomatoes, from celebrated author and former British Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, is now in graphic novel form with full-colour illustrations by Cole Henley.

The 118 page, full colour hardback book was crowdfunded by publisher Unbound and is now available from all good book shops and online via the usual retailers, as well as Unbound direct.

The book is Cole’s first ever project as a comic artist – talk about jumping in the deep end to achieve a lifelong ambition! – and looks absolutely fantastic. Both creators were interviewed earlier this year by Alex Fitch for his Panel Borders show.

Uh-oh… Frank isn’t doing well at school, and he has just been told off by his head teacher again… He has one last chance to prove himself: all he has to do is follow the rules on his class trip to Chiltern House, complete his worksheet and stay out of trouble. But when a girl steps out of a painting and steals Frank’s worksheet, staying out of trouble is easier said than done.

Together, they embark on a perilous adventure to discover the girl’s lost identity, uniting with new friends along the way who show Frank all is not as it seems in this stately home. How did the owners of Chiltern House come to own its priceless treasures?

Can the secrets of the past ever really stay hidden?

Will Frank’s head teacher stop him and his new friends before they find out the truth?Frank’s class trip is more than he bargained for, but it may just hold the greatest lesson he’ll ever learn.

Michael Rosen has been writing books for children since the early 1970s. His most famous collaboration, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, has sold over eight million copies world wide.

He has won several awards, been awarded several honorary degrees, and has an MA and a Ph.D. from his studies of children’s literature. From 2007-2009 he was the British Children’s Laureate.

He broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio 4 and he is a Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London. He has written or edited over 200 books and his YouTube Channel, ‘Kids’ Poems and Stories with Michael Rosen’ has over 300,000 subscribers and has had 60 million views.

Cole Henley is an illustrator, recovering archaeologist and maker of websites based in Somerset. Since youth, he has never been far from pencil and paper and was really excited to work with Michel’s on bringing this fun story to a new audience.

He has two children, a dog, a grumpy Scottish cat and hates the sound ice makes in the freezer drawer.

• You’re Thinking About Tomatoes is available now from all good bookshops (AmazonUK Affiliate Link) | Buy a signed copy from Unbound

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.