David Bedford

daviddavidbedford.co.uk

I write picture books for ages 2-7, including the international best-seller Big Bear Little Bear, and recent titles It's a George Thing! and Mole's In Love.

I also write The Football Machine fiction series for ages 7-11. The series is about a boy/girl football team who enlist the help of a Professor to invent ways to improve their game. Six titles are out now, and a further three will be out in 2010, ahead of the World Cup.

On radio, I have experience talking about my football writing, Bedtime Stories, and writing about LOVE, the theme of the book I wrote about my daughter, The Way I Love You.

Commissions include writing GRUB, a giant-sized book sent to every school in England and Wales as part of the Department of Health's initiative to provide free fruit and vegetables to KS1 children.

As a former scientist (I have a PhD in biology and genetics) I enjoy talking about the nature of ideas and one of my main workshop topics encourages children (and adults) to explore their ability to come up with new ideas and inventions.

In schools and libraries I give readings, talks and workshops for children up to age 11. For preschool children (such as SureStart funded events) I tend to read my interactive flap books such as Big and Tums, as well as first picture books like Big Bear Little Bear, where I can involve the children by handing around cuddly toy characters. For primary age children I use longer picture books and The Team football series, and I can tailor talks to particular topics such as such as How a Book is Made, (where I show the various stages of a book's production), What an Author Does, Writing Tricks, How to Have Ideas, and Language and Creativity. All talks are flexible and as interactive as possible, and can involve drama, with children making their own books, or straight performances to larger groups - whatever suits a particular school.

Please read the 'Author Visits' page on my website for more details.

I live in NORTH NORFOLK.

LIBRARY REFERENCE:

Dear David
I meant to contact you sooner about the wonderful story time you did for us at the Sure Start Children's Centre in Bowthorpe. I guess it is always useful to have some feedback from these events. We found it hard to believe that you have only done a few events with this age group as your approach was spot on, and you seemed very confident when dealing with the children. (I guess being a parent is a big help!)

We all really enjoyed your stories and my son, Oscar, really loves his copy of "Mo's smelly jumper". He especially likes the bit where the animals all fall in the mud and get dirty.

I have recommended you to others in the library service who may wish to do similar events.

Literacy Development Worker
Earlham Library, Norfolk County Council

SCHOOL REFERENCE:

I am pleased to give a reference for David Bedford.

He visited our school last year as part of our Pyramid Book Week celebrations. He entertained children from the age of 3 years up to 9 years of age.

He shows a positive attitude towards the children and a strong ability to communicate effectively with them.

His talks were enjoyed by pupils, staff and governors. He was funny and inspiring.

David will be back to help us celebrate Book Week 2006.

Literacy and Assessment Co ordinator
Castle Hill Infant School, Ipswich

	The Team (The Football Machine Series) (isbn:192127204X) A trilogy of stories about Harvey, his football team, and their robot Mark 1. View in Amazon
	The Team Strikes Again (isbn:9781921272844) Three more titles about Harvey and his football team. View in Amazon
	It's a George Thing! (isbn:9781405228053) George the zebra discovers his special talent is dancing! View in Amazon
	Mole's in Love (isbn:9781405230339) Morris the myopic mole searches for love. View in Amazon
	Big Bear Little Bear (isbn:1854307088) Little Bear longs to be big and strong like his mum. View in Amazon