David Bedford

Typical audiences are nursery and primary aged children in schools, libraries, and children’s centres (Surestart), and all ages in bookshops and at festivals. I’ve given talks at the Roald Dahl Museum, a ’Dads and Lads’ club, a drop-in toddler group, to trainee teachers, cub scouts, and in the middle of a new shopping mall! I have judged writing competitions, and taught writing courses for adults.

Lately I have enjoyed longer trips, spending 4 days at the Glasgow Festival, 12 sunny days with the wonderful Literacy Network of schools in Skegness, and a week workshopping with Year 5 boys in Wales, with the valleys’ Schools Library Service. I’m looking forward to the Northern Book Festival, and visits to six international schools in Spain later this year.

School Visits

My books cover the Primary and First School age ranges, from nursery to Year 6, with particular interest from age 7+ boys in my ’Football Machine’ series about an inspirational boy/girl football team.

You might want to read an interview.

Preschool, Nursery and Reception

I use my flap books such as ’Knock! Knock!’ and ’Tums’, as well as first picture books like ’Big Bear Little Bear’. The children get involved by guessing what’s under the flap, handling the touch-and-feel story ’Hairy Monkey’, and by meeting cuddly toy characters from the books. Afterwards they can make their own ’Knock Knock’ flap book with my supplied pages, suitable for all abilities.

Key Stages 1 and 2

I tend to talk about longer picture books and ’The Football Machine’ 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, and How to Have Ideas.

Talks are flexible and as interactive as possible, from children making their own books or designs in class-size groups, to straight performances for larger groups - whatever suits a particular school.

Arranging a Visit

Feel free to get in touch (see my Contact page). I’m happy to discuss any events you have in mind - all things considered. Fees depend on the type of event and travel times.

I live in North Norfolk, but am happy to travel. London is convenient.

Book Sales

I usually bring a selection of books to sign and sell at the end of the day. I don’t push the books, but I think it is important that children have the opportunity to take home a book as a memento which may well inspire them to become readers. In some cases funding has allowed each child to take home a free book, and the effect on otherwise reluctant readers was dramatic.

All of my books are discounted to a sale price of £5, and I leave a selection of signed books for the school library.

Little Books

I have occasionally been asked by schools if there is simple way for classes to have their own book published, with the children’s own stories inside. I recently discovered a company that does just that, and having looked at some of their sample books, I’m happy to recommend The Little Books, see http://www.thelittlebooks.co.uk

References

Dear David
I meant to contact you sooner about the wonderful story time you did for us at the Sure Start Children’s Center 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

 

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 next year.

Literacy and Assessment Coordinator
Castle Hill Infant School, Ipswich

Events

Kids Lit Quiz, Huddersfield, November 2010
Northern Children’s Book Festival, Newcastle, November 2010
Heath Mount School, Herts, October 2010

Benjamin Franklin International School, Barcelona, Sept 2010

St Paul’s School, Barcelona, Sept 2010

British School of Villareal, Sept 2010

Caxton College, Valencia, Sept 2010

Oak House School, Barcelona, Sept 2010

British School of Barcelona, Sept 2010

St Peter’s School, Barcelona, Sept 2010

Kirkwall Library, Orkney, Aug 2010
Deben High School, Felixstowe, Suffolk July 2010
Sir Robert Hitcham Primary, Suffolk, 2010
Debenham Arts Festival, Suffolk, June 2010
Larner’s Book Shop, Holt, June 1st 2010
Jarrolds Book Store, Norwich, May 29th 2010
Pengeulan Primary School, Rhondda-Cynon-Taf, Wales, May 2010
Penywaun Primary School, Rhondda-Cynon-Taf, Wales, May 2010
Penpych Primary School, Rhondda-Cynon-Taf, Wales, May 2010
Glenboi Primary School, Rhondda-Cynon-Taf, Wales, May 2010
Takely Primary, Herts, March 2010
Woodlands Infants School, Ilford, March 2010
Tunstead Primary, Norfolk, March 2010
’Bounce into Books’ Reading Partners Festival, Morely Library, Leeds, Feb, 2010
Children’s Reading Partners Newcastle Roadshow, Newcastle, Dec 2009
St Mary’s Primary, Woodbridge, Nov 2009
Kirkley Middle School, Norfolk, Oct 2009
Write Away ’Read to Inspire’ student teacher event, Birmingham City University, Oct 2009
Drayton Infants, Norfolk, Oct 2009
Friskney Primary, Lincs, June 2009
Skegness Junior School, June 2009
Chapel St Leonards Primary, Lincs, June 2009
Ingoldmells Primary, Skegness, June 2009
Forest Primary, Brandon, Suffolk, June 2009
Burgh-le-Marsh Primary, Lincs, June 2009
Hogsthorpe Primary, Lincs, June 2009
Wainfleet Magdalen School, Lincs, June 2009
Seathorne Primary, Winthorpe, Lincs, June 2009
Birmingham Young Readers Festival, May 2009
St Clement’s College Year 7, Skegness, May 2009
Skegness Infants, May 2009
The Richmond School, Skegness, May 2009
Eyke Primary School, Suffolk, March 2009
Festival of Social Science Conference: Literacy (and how to combat poor literacy)
                                                        London City University, March 2009
Aye Write Festival, Glasgow, March 2009
’Words in the Woods’, Dereham, Norfolk March 2009
Greyfriars Primary, Kings Lynn, Norfolk Feb 2009
Singlegate Primary School, London, Jan 2009
Dereham Library, Norfolk, Dec 23rd 2008
Border’s, Norwich, Dec 20th 2008
Larner’s Bookstore, Holt, Norfolk, 4th and 13th Dec 2007
Joules Store, Jarrolds, Norwich, Nov 16th 2008
Joules Store, Burnham Market, Norfolk, Nov 9th 2008
The Big Draw, Ipswich, Exhibition and Q&A Event Oct 21, 2008
Beccles and Orton Broad Libraries, Suffolk, Oct 2008
Nelson Infants School, Norwich, Oct 2008
Willows Primary School, Ipswich, Oct 2008
Aylsham Big Book Bash, Aylsham, Norfolk, 26-28 Sept 2008
Lighthouse Toys Storytime, Histon, Cambridgeshire, Aug 29 2008
Cromer Library Summer Read Launch, July 23, 2008
Waterstone’s Super Saturday Storytime, Royal Arcade, Norwich, July 19 2008
St Edmund’s Primary, Bury St Edmunds, June 2008
North Elmham Primary School, Norfolk, June 2008
Manor Field Infant and Nursery School, Norfolk, June 2008
Felixtowe Library, May 2008
Wellington Children’s Centre, Ipswich, May 2008
Stoke Nursery, Ipswich, May 2008
Ark Children’s Centre, Lowestoft, April 2008
Wellington Children’s Centre, Lowestoft, April 2008
Lowestoft library, April 2008
Highfield Children’s Centre, Ipswich, March 2008
Willows Children’s Centre, Ipswich, March 2008
Treehouse Children’s Centre, Ipswich, March 2008
Waterstones, Norwich, March 2008 - World Book Day
Lawford CofE Primary School, Manningtree, Feb 2008
Larner’s Bookstore, Holt, Norfolk, Dec 2007
Chilton Primary School, Stowmarket, Oct 2007
Ipswich Town Football Club schools day, Nov 2007
Eastern Daily Press Short Story Comp. for Children, Adjudication Nov 2007
** Winner Ben Page **
Castle Hill Infants School, Ipswich, Oct 2007
Larner’s Bookstore, Holt, Norfolk, Sept 2007
Golden Square Shopping Centre, Aug 2007
Stalham Library, Norfolk, Aug 2007
Waterstones, Norwich, Super Storytime Saturday, Aug 2007
Mattishall Village Hall summer workshop, July 2007
Elmsett CofE Primary School, Ipswich, July 2007
Deben High School, Felixtowe, June 2007
Roydon Primary School, Diss, Norfolk, May 2007
John of Gaunt Infant School and Nursery, Aylsham, Norfolk May 2007
Toftwood Infant School, Dereham, Norfolk, March 2007
Thomas Bullock Primary School, Shipdham, Norfolk, March 2007
Taverham Hall School, Norfolk, March 2007
Whitefriars Primary School, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, March 2007
Gaywood Community Primary School, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, March 2007, 2 days
Corpusty Primary School, Norfolk, March 2007
Fakenham Junior School, Norfolk, March 2007
Highgate Infants, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, March 2007
St Michaels CofE Primary School, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, Feb 2007
Colkirk Primary School, Norfolk, Feb 2007
Swanton Abbot Primary, Norfolk Feb 2007
Borders bookstore, Norwich, Nov 2006
Rackheath Primary School, Norfolk, Oct 2006
Pirbright Primary School, Sept 2006
BBC Radio Norfolk ’Bedtime Stories’ feature, Aug, 2006
Greyfriars School, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, May 2006
Dereham Festival, Norfolk, May 2006
Bowthorpe Surestart Centre, Norwich, Aug 2005
Birmingham Young Readers Festival, May 2005
Cromer Library, Norfolk, March 2005
Mundesley Library, Norfolk, Feb 2005
Ludham First School, Norfolk, Feb 2005
Horsford First School, Norfolk, March 2003
Gresham’s Pre-prep School, Holt, Norfolk, Feb 2003
North Walsham Infants, Norfolk, March 2002
Corpusty Primary School, Norfolk, Oct 2001