When I Say Rosey Lea, You Say Tea: bringing cockney rhyming slang to a new generation

London is a city of layers – history and modernity stacked upon one another, cultures interwoven, and dialects evolving. Yet some traditions, like Cockney Rhyming Slang, are at risk of fading.

Illustrator Hannah Gibson and writer Grace Crowley have set out to change that with their children's book When I Say Rosey Lea, You Say Tea. Through playful storytelling and evocative imagery, the book introduces young readers to Cockney Rhyming Slang and celebrates the working-class spirit of London.

It all began as part of Gibson's final graduate piece at Camberwell College of Arts, but it quickly became more than just an academic exercise. "I knew it would be a children's book," Gibson explains.

"Being a native Londoner has informed so much of my art, and I was graduating from UAL, so creating a project about home felt natural."

Crowley, a journalist and writer, saw an opportunity to capture the linguistic quirks of their upbringing. She says: "Cockney Rhyming Slang, in particular, is something we have both grown up around, and it wasn't until we went to uni that we both realised it wasn't as natural to everyone else as it was to us.

"It is a really playful language, and I have so many memories of being a child and asking my mum and dad to teach me silly rhymes."

The book takes readers through everyday London experiences, like drinking tea, taking the bus, and handling pocket money, while incorporating Cockney Rhyming Slang in a way that feels immersive rather than academic. The goal is to make children actively engage with the rhyming patterns, turning language into a kind of game.

The influence of childhood and the 1950s–60s aesthetic

Both Gibson and Crowley drew from their own experiences growing up in London. "My family are very old-school London, so I have spent many, many hours in pie and mash shops across the city—Bush Pie and Mash being my favourite!" Crowley recalls. "There's something beautifully uncomplicated about the old, smelly pubs I grew up in."

Gibson's visual approach was heavily inspired by the design sensibilities of the 1950s and 60s. "I found myself referring to a lot of vintage illustrations and repeat pattern making, especially from packaging design and clothing," she says.

By incorporating these elements, she created a visual language that feels both nostalgic and fresh, making the book a love letter to a version of London that spans generations.

The importance of working-class representation

One of the most significant aspects of When I Say Rosey Lea, You Say Tea is its focus on working-class culture. Gibson says, "Growing up in London, my best memories don't orient around anything 'fancy' or expensive.

"It was just simply exploring the city with my cousins and my family. We wanted to remind people that there is beauty and excitement in the everyday London experience."

Crowley reinforces this, saying: "London is so quickly becoming impossible to enjoy if you aren't making lots of money.

"We want to remind readers that there is joy in the city even if you feel like you don't have the money to 'do London right' and go to all the nice restaurants and exhibitions." By centring the book around simple pleasures—parks, tea, bus rides—the duo hopes to capture the essence of London, which is accessible and full of character.

The creative process: from concept to reality

The partnership between Gibson and Crowley was clearly very natural and the pair had always spoken about creating a project together. But, nothing ever really felt right until the conversation about Cockney Rhyming Slang came about.

While their shared love for vintage aesthetics, language, and storytelling made the project flow seamlessly, bringing the book to life came with its own challenges. "Working to a tight deadline with my graduation approaching, myself and Grace balanced multiple projects at once to make sure this was ready in time," Gibson says.

Crowley also faced the challenge of deciding which slang phrases to include. "There were definitely ones that my parents had said around me that I thought were just a bit too strange to put into writing," she says. "'Plates of meat' for feet is just gross! But I loved using 'rosey lea'—it's such a classic, and I really do use it every day."

Sharing the book with young readers

The first real test for When I Say Rosey Lea, You Say Tea came when the authors introduced it to a local primary school in South West London. According to Gibson, they loved sharing the book with its intended audience, and it was a great relief that the children actively engaged with the story.

Crowley recalls how interactive the reading became, as it quickly turned into a call-and-response experience, with the children shouting out the rhymes at the end. "The positive reaction absolutely consolidated the faith we had in the concept," she adds.

The book's impact even extended beyond the classroom. "My mum adores the book," Crowley shares. "Since reading it, she has tried to test my knowledge of more obscure rhymes. My mum must have shown it to everyone in all of Shepherd's Bush!"

Gibson adds that her father has also taken the time to quiz her on Cockney Rhyming Slang, reinforcing the book's potential to spark conversations across generations.

Keeping cockney rhyming slang alive

At its heart, the book is about more than just language—it's about preserving a way of life. "We hope the book injects a sort of playfulness and pride into being a Londoner," says Crowley.

"Cockney Rhyming Slang is representative of a community and culture that is being lost over time, and if children are exposed to even a few phrases, we are preserving the stories of the people who built the London we know and love today."

Gibson and Crowley hope the project will inspire further exploration of regional dialects and dying vernaculars. "There is a real emphasis on preservation of cultures and language at the moment, like with Kneecap and their modern revival of Gaeilge," says Gibson. "We would love to explore different dying languages through fun projects like this."

As of now, Gibson and Crowley are actively seeking a publisher to help bring When I Say Rosey Lea, You Say Tea to a wider audience. "Ideally, we'd work with a British-based publisher who understands our vision and intended audience," says Gibson, adding, "We would love to have the chance to expand this book into a series where we could explore different slang and cultures around the world."

Beyond publishing, they see opportunities for collaborations with London-based brands and institutions, so they can spread the word of Cockney Rhyming Slang in concepts beyond publishing.

For Gibson, the project has reinforced her passion for illustration and storytelling. "I absolutely loved working on this book. It allowed me to learn more about the city I was born and raised in and include personal elements related to my friends and family." She hopes to continue working in children's publishing while also exploring editorial, advertising, and packaging design.

With When I Say Rosey Lea, You Say Tea, Gibson and Crowley have created something deeply personal yet universally resonant. By capturing the rhythms and quirks of Cockney Rhyming Slang, they have ensured that a slice of London's cultural heritage will continue to be passed down—one rhyme at a time.