Fun, interactive talks and workshops on everything to do with writing and being an author. Talks are tailored to each event and can easily be linked to relevant themes, from bedtime stories and jokey flap books to robots and writing about sport - whatever suits the event.
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.
Longer trips have included 4 days at the Glasgow Festival, 12 sunny days with the wonderful Literacy Network of schools in Skegness, a week workshopping with Year 5 boys in Wales, visits to six international schools in Spain, and a 5-day writing project with foundation-stage children at an award-winning School of Creativity.
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.
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.
To Make a Booking
David is based in the UK (Norfolk), but likes to travel. To make a school booking with David Bedford, in the UK or internationally, please contact Authors Abroad by phoning Trevor Wilson on +44 (0) 1535 656015, or emailing him at info@authorsabroad.com
References
David spent two days at our school in January. His whole school assembly was entertaining and the children loved joining in with the George thing dance. David carried out workshops with all year groups across the school. The children were thoroughly engaged with what David was saying and enjoyed the workshops. David’s activities were thoughtful and relevant to each of the different age groups. He provided all children with an understanding of the process of writing books and filled them with excitement to have a go themselves. I have had lots of positive feedback from the teachers and parents, commenting on how it has inspired their children to write. David has lovely, warm manner with the children and is very approachable. Thank you, David, for providing interesting and engaging workshops at our school.
Literacy Coordinator, Orchard CE Primary, Leicestershire
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
William Austin Infants, Luton, Feb 2012
Bramingham Primary, Luton, Jan 2012
Dereham Library, November 2011
Lollibop Festival, London August 2011
Hay Festival, June 2011
Birmingham Young Readers Festival, May 2011
Catfield Primary, Norfolk, March 2011
Astley Primary, Norfolk, March 2011
Toftwood Infants, Norfolk, Feb 2011
Surlingham Primary, Norfolk, Jan & Feb 2011
Orchard Primary, Leicestershire, Jan 2011
Kids Lit Quiz, Huddersfield, November 2010
Northern Children’s Book Festival, Newcastle, November 2010:
(East Bolton Infants and Cleadon Park Library, South Shields; Front Street Primary, Newcastle upon Tyne; Grove Hill Library, Middlesborough)
Heath Mount School, Herts, October 2010
’On behalf of everyone at Heath Mount I would like to thank you for a super day! The children are still talking about your books.’
Aslacton Primary, Norfolk, Oct 2010
’Thank you so much for the visit yesterday. All the staff and children at Aslacton thoroughly enjoyed it; a large number of my class would now like to become authors!’
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
’Please thank David again for all his work with the kids. They really enjoyed it, as did all the teachers. If he ever pays us another visit I promise we’ll have a special saucer lined up for him! Anyway, thanks to Easyjet looks like he’ll get a few more days off...’ St Peter’s School
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
