David Bedford lives in a village by the sea in Norfolk, England, with his wife and two children. David was a genetic scientist before becoming a full-time author. He is the author of over seventy books for children and is published in more than thirty countries around the world, from Turkey to Thailand, and Australia to Iceland.

David’s best-selling picture books include the worldwide hit Big Bear, Little Bear, and its sequel Bedtime for Little Bears. He is also known for creating funny and informative flap books for younger children, as well as The Team series of short fiction for older children, which feature a soccer-playing robot and have been translated into six languages.

David is a British Council Active Citizen working globally and locally in the area of ’boys literacy’. He also delivers the Premier League Reading Stars football initiative on behalf of the National Literacy Trust.

David regularly visits schools, libraries and festivals, both in the UK and abroad, and is available for interviews, appearances and commissions. He is proud to be one of the first Patron’s of Reading - details to follow.

Please contact David, his agent or his publishers from the Contact page.

News for 2013...

- completed my British Council Active Citizens social project to promote reading for boys, by writing a story that promotes reading for boys! Details very hush hush.

- been to Jordan with mintaad, a new online book lending service promoting reading and a culture of books in the Middle East region.

- proud to be a Patron of Reading at two schools. Details to come.

- long trip to Guernsey for Book Week in October - can’t wait.

... two new picture books ...

Sylvester & Arnold is a picture book about two really tough crocs who rule a swamp, but have never met. They bump into each other and start to rumble... but before it kicks off, Betty the Bad arrives to sort things out! Illustrated hilariously by Tom Jellet and published in Australia by Little Hare Books, and in the UK by Egmont in June.

Because I Love You, beautifully illustrated by Rebecca Harry, is all about what happens when a little bear thinks he hasn’t had enough love from his mum. Nosy Crow, October.

... and The Team books still going strong!

’The Team’ football series is now available to buy through this site here, and is being developed in ebook and app formats. Popular in schools, the series is a key part of my work with the National Literacy Trust’s football initiative Premier League Reading Stars (PLRS) which encourages boy’s reading in particular. There’s a cracking new Team poster available to download on this site’s Home page.

The Dinosaur Games (2012 but still going strong!)

See here to find out about my new character, Titus the T-Rex, his sporty dinosaur friends, and their very own olympics-style games.

Long ago by a bubbling volcano, they held the Great Dinosaur Games ...

The Dinosaur Games is a rhyming picture book for ages 3-6.

Chosen by the Reading Agency as part of the national UK libraries Summer Reading Scheme 2012 and the WHSmith picture book summer chart.

Overseas it’s already available in Finnish, as Dinojen Kisat

The Way I Love You, my beautifully illustrated picture book about a girl and her dog, is on itunes!

Babies Don’t Bite!

With a COUNTING element (1 to 10), this book is full of cute farmyard babies, and reassurance for older siblings that not only are babies fab - but they also love their big brothers and sisters to bits!

See book details here.

’Ideal book for all expectant brothers and sisters - putting little ones’ minds at rest that babies are actually just waiting to have fun with their older siblings. The illustrations are perfect.’ Angels and Urchins

’What a lovely book! The baby animals in their romper suits are charming! As well as being a great way to help young children feel less apprehensive about a new brother or sister it is also a fun counting book!’ E Henderson (Amazon)

Mole’s Babies

Mole’s Babies continues the series about the lovable Morris, who, having found love and friendship in Mole’s In Love, now has new babies to look forward to! See the book here.

’AN OUTSTANDING PICTURE BOOK. Mole’s Babies is an ideal book for new parents as well as for families with a new arrival - it’s great for teaching young siblings that ’love’ is all they need!’ - Creative Steps

’A lovely reassuring read to share with your loved one.’ - Parents in Touch

’the text is wonderfully varied and expressive’ - Carousel magazine

Bouncy, Bouncy Bedtime is a new collaboration with the illustrator of It’s a George Thing. See here.

’The ideal bedtime story as all the animals run out of bounce and succumb to sleep - just like your little one!’ - Parents in Touch

’I really can’t praise this amazing book highly enough – everything about it is perfect.’ - Bookbag

’Ideal for any child at bedtime, this tale sparks their imagination and explicitly asks them to envisage all animals trotting off to bed just like them.’ - Our New Bestest Book - tremendously two

Mole’s In Love - introducing Morris, the lovable mole!

It is Spring, and Morris the mole is looking for love... This first picture book about Morris (see here) sold 17,000 copies in it’s first month, and is published in five countries worldwide. It will continue to feature in promotions in Waterstones and WHSmith through 2009.

Reviews:

"A gorgeous love story, featuring Morris the Mole, who is looking to love, but given his shortsightedness it’s not easy to find. And, when he finds it, it’s not quite the love he was expecting." Lovereading 4 Kids

’This sweet book is perfect to share with young children who will enjoy both the bright illustrations and the message that, sometimes, you have to wait for love to find you.’ Teach Primary

’a poetic celebration of true romantic spirit’ Junior

’An endearing tale, beautifully illustrated with text written in an eye-catching font that wraps around the pictures that consume the page, in the most atmospheric way.’ Early Years Educator

’Lovely earthy colours combined with a good old-fashioned tale of love. Make this perfect for Valentine’s Day’ The Bookseller

’The children loved this story. Several called out ’Ugh!’ when Morris blew a kiss. A lovely story for children to join in with.’ This is Kids Stuff

’Great for new readers.’ D J Williams, Primary Times

"A lovely, gentle springtime story." angelsandurchins.co.uk

It’s a George Thing! (doing that thing!)

Waterstones’ Book of the Month, March 2008.

CBeebies Bedtime Story Saturday 15 March 2008.

WH Smith promotion, May 2008.

Booktrust Early Years Award Shortlist 2008.

Click here to visit the George Thing page on this site.

Amazon review:

I Really love this book, and I’m 38!!! By  Sally Our neighbours bought this book for my little boys 4th birthday. It’s a really lovely book with funny illustrations and a nice story. It enthralled my other son whose 5 and his 6 year old cousin too. It would suit any preschool child in my opinion because it is just a very easy book to look at and as per the title I enjoy reading it to the children even at my ripe old age :o)

Magazine reviews:

’for teachers and parents looking to instil confidence’ Bookseller ’Make Space For These’

“A funny, beautifully illustrated story about friends and very fancy footwork” Booksellers Buyers Guide

“This is a very sweet tale of difference, acceptance and being true to yourself” Junior Magazine

“This is an endearingly funny and incredibly cute tale of three friends, each with their own ’thing’…Your heart warms to George the zebra instantly in his vulnerability.”
Early Years Educator (Book of the Month)

January Pick of the New Year - Families Southeast Magazine

’This Billy Elliot story from the animal world is beautifully illustrated and full of dynamism - great for circle time’ Reading Corner

’5-6 year olds would love the bright, coloured pictures’ Megan, Term Times

’This very amusing story illustrates how true friendship can be sustained even when each individual has very different strengths. An added attraction is the simple dance routine, illustrated on the end papers for even the most reluctant dancer to master.’ Carousel

’the whole family will be on its feet!’ The Scotsman

Other magazine reviews to come include FQ (March), Pregnancy and Parenting Ireland, Nursery World, Creative Steps and Primary Times.

“ The illustration is vibrant and complements the text, imbuing it with a wonderful sense an enjoyable picturebook story with an important message told in a gentle style”  Writeaway online review.

Oldham Community Radio children’s reading programme, 2008.

Little Bear’s Big Jumper sells Worldwide.

Little Bear’s Big Jumper is published in a whopping TEN countries, from the USA to Sweden, Slovenia, Portugal, Korea, Iceland, Holland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

Illustrated lovingly by Caroline Pedler (my collaborator on Bedtime for Little Bears), this book is about a hand-me-down jumper that Big Bear wants to keep for himself, even though it’s getting too small for him. Little Bear eventually gets it, and loves it... but when he finds himself tangled in a bush, there is trouble for both bears to resolve. Soft-to-touch ’flocking’ throughout allows you to follow the tale - and the jumper - as it unravels...

See the book here, and read an author interview.