Children at Coldfall Primary in Muswell Hill were treated to an unforgettable visit when writer Michael Rosen and illustrator Helen Oxenbury stopped by to share their first new collaboration in more than three decades.

The duo, best known for the classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, have reunited to create Oh Dear, Look What I Got!, a playful rhyming tale about a child who brings home a string of animal surprises from a trip to the shops.

To bring the story to life, Rosen arrived with a goat and a cat, while Oxenbury introduced pupils to her rescue dog Bernie and even carried a parrot on her hand. The lively reading session kept 180 five and six-year-olds engaged as they joined in with the rhythm of the verses and guessed which animal would appear next.

Main Points:

• Oh Dear, Look What I Got! is their first joint book since Bear Hunt 36 years ago.

• The story features a goat, cat, snake, parrot, dog and, of course, a bear.

• Rosen and Oxenbury read the book to pupils at Coldfall Primary on September 8.

• Oxenbury said the text reminded her of Dr Seuss, while Rosen said he was “over the moon” to work with her again.

• The book will be published in hardback by Walker Books on September 11.

Oxenbury, a multiple award-winning illustrator, described the project as a chance to work in a fresh style that matched the humor of Rosen’s words. Rosen, who lives near the school, said he hoped children and adults alike would enjoy chanting along with the verses and memorizing them as they once did with Bear Hunt.

The pair will celebrate the launch of Oh Dear, Look What I Got! with a party at the Well Walk puppet theatre in Hampstead later this week.