CHILDREN'S author David Bedford entranced youngsters with his stories as he visited libraries and a children's centre as part of the National Year of Reading project.
CHILDREN'S author David Bedford entranced youngsters with his stories as he visited libraries and a children's centre as part of the National Year of Reading project.
Mr Bedford visited Felixstowe Library, where he met and read to 20 children from Trimley St Mary's Play Pit Nursery, the Wellington Children's Centre in Ipswich, and Stoke Library, Ipswich, where he read to 20 toddlers from the library's Bookstart session.
Devon-born Mr Bedford, who lives with his wife and two young children in Norfolk, started his working life as a NATO scientist working on projects to develop new antibiotics.
He had always loved books and took a career change which has seen him write full time and has published more than 40 children's books and picture books.
“It's great to write for children and I love coming to places such as libraries to read to them - it's great when you open a book and start to read and they sit their transfixed, entranced by the story,” he said.
“I just want to encourage more children to read.”
Mr Bedford's books, which have been translated into many languages, include Big Bears Can! and Big Bear, Little Bear, along with a series of junior novels, called The Team, about a football team that doesn't always win.
Suffolk County Council has put together a programme of events for the National Year of Reading and is aiming to have an author visit every library, as well as other activities throughout 2008.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here