Bedford, David
BEDFORD, David
Personal
Married Kate (formerly Deborah) Jackson; children: Isobel, Tom.
Addresses
Home— Norfolk, England. Agent— c/o Author Mail, Magi Publications/Little Tiger Press, 1 The Coda Centre, 189 Munster Rd., London SW6 6AW, England. E-mail— [email protected].
Career
Writer, beginning 1997. Formerly worked as a scientist.
Awards, Honors
Portsmouth (England) Book Award shortlist, 2004, for The Copy Crocs.
Writings
It's My Turn, illustrated by Elaine Field, Little Tiger Press (London, England), 2000, Tiger Tales (Wilton, CT), 2001.
Big Bears Can!, illustrated by Gaby Hansen, Tiger Tales (Wilton, CT), 2001.
Big Bear, Little Bear, illustrated by Jane Chapman, Little Tiger Press (London, England), 2001, published as Touch the Sky, My Little Bear, Handprint Books (Brooklyn, NY), 2001.
Shaggy Dog and the Terrible Itch, Barron's Educational Series (Hauppauge, NY), 2001.
The Long Journey Home, illustrated by Penny Ives, Little Tiger Press (London, England), 2001.
(With wife, Deborah Jackson) Hairy Monkey: A Touch-and-Feel Storybook, illustrated by Joanne Stone, Tango Books (London, England), 2002.
Tiger Eats Pizza: A Touch-and-Feel Storybook, illustrated by Jan Lewis, Tango Books (London, England), 2002.
Ella's Games, illustrated by Peter Kavanagh, Barron's Educational Series (Hauppauge, NY), 2002.
What Are You Doing in My Bed?, illustrated by Daniel Howarth, Little Tiger Press (London, England), 2003.
Mo's Smelly Jumper, illustrated by Edward Eaves, Little Tiger Press (London, England), 2003, published as Mo's Stinky Sweater, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2004.
Let's Play Colours, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2003.
The Copy Crocs, illustrated by Emily Bolam, Peachtree (Atlanta, GA), 2004.
Big, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2004.
Big & Small, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2004.
Bums, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2004.
Tums, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2004.
In-o-saur, Out-o-saur, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2005.
One-o-saur, Two-o-saur, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2005.
The Way I Love You, illustrated by Ann James, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2005.
"THE TEAM" SERIES
The Football Machine, illustrated by Keith Brumpton, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2003.
Top of the League, illustrated by Keith Brumpton, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2003.
Soccer Camp, illustrated by Keith Brumpton, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2004.
Superteam, illustrated by Keith Brumpton, Little Hare (Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia), 2004.
Sidelights
A former scientist who started a new career as a writer in 1997, David Bedford is best known for his highly regarded picture books for children, including Ella's Games, The Way I Love You, and Touch the Sky, My Little Bear. Reflecting an interest in soccer—Bedford, being British, calls it "football"—Bedford is also the author of The Football Machine, Top of the League, and other works from his popular series about a youth soccer team.
In Touch the Sky, My Little Bear, Bedford focuses on a mother polar bear and her baby exploring the world together. The pair work on their den, swim in icy water, and play in the snow. According to Booklist contributor Linda M. Kenton, Bedford's "text has a gentle tone, yet it is simultaneously enthusiastic about the prospect of adventuring in the grown-up world." A babysitting job goes awry in another bear-related title, Big Bears Can! While his mother runs an errand, Big Bear is left to watch over his younger brother. Little Bear, however, takes control of the situation by challenging his sibling to a series of dares that turn the house into a disaster area. Youngsters will appreciate the "no-you-can't/yes-I-can repetitive dialogue," observed John Sigwald in School Library Journal.
Ella's Games also concerns sibling rivalry. Ella, a tiny mouse, would like nothing better than to be included in her older brother's activities. The boys, though, have several objections, noting that Ella is too small and too timid for their liking. The imaginative Ella concocts a number of fantastic scenarios to prove her worth, including her successful attempt to rescue an elephant that was stuck in the mud, and she wins her brothers' approval. "The book ends on a rousing note, with Ella firmly in charge of a pretend pirate adventure aboard a pot of honeysuckle," wrote a critic in Publishers Weekly.
A reptile who seeks a little privacy is the subject of The Copy Crocs. When Crocodile tires of the overcrowded conditions at his home, he searches for a place to call his own. Wherever he lands, though, be it a muddy puddle or a floating log, his friends are sure to follow. Crocodile decides to return to his pool, which is now empty, but he soon misses his friends and learns to appreciate their camaraderie once they rejoin him. "The rhythmic pacing and effective use of dialogue make this an ideal book for reading aloud," noted Shawn Brommer in School Library Journal.
The Way I Love You focuses on the strong, loving bond between a young girl and her dog. In the work, a preschooler lists the many ways she cherishes her frisky, spirited pup, praising her pet's ability to run, jump, wag its tail, snuggle, and even smile. Describing The Way I Love You as a "gentle poem," a critic in Publishers Weekly faulted the sentimentality of Bedford's text, but also noted that "it never intrudes on … the feeling that, for this pair, the world is their oyster." Booklist critic Jennifer Mattson observed that the "cozy, satisfying refrain 'And that's the way I love you'" will appeal to youngsters.
Biographical and Critical Sources
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 15, 2001, Amy Brandt, review of Touch the Sky, My Little Bear, p. 1563; December 15, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review of The Way I Love You, p. 746.
Publishers Weekly, August 19, 2002, review of Ella's Games, p. 88; July 26, 2004, review of Mo's Stinky Sweater, p. 53; December 6, 2004, review of The Way I Love You, p. 59.
School Library Journal, May, 2001, Linda M. Kenton, review of Touch the Sky, My Little Bear, p. 109; August, 2001, John Sigwald, review of Big Bears Can!, p. 142; January, 2002, Linda Ludke, review of Shaggy Dog and the Terrible Itch, p. 95; December, 2002, Meghan R. Malone, review of Ella's Games, p. 84; March, 2004, review of The Copy Crocs, Shawn Brommer, p. 152; October, 2004, Be Astengo, review of Mo's Stinky Sweater, p. 109.
ONLINE
David Bedford Home Page, http://www.mysite.wanadoomembers.co.uk/David_Bedford/ (April 16, 2005).
Bedford, David (Vickerman)
Bedford, David (Vickerman)
Bedford, David (Vickerman)
Bedford, David (Vickerman), English composer, brother of Steuart (John Rudolf) Bedford; b. London, Aug. 4, 1937. He was the grandson of Liza Lehmann . After training in London at Trinity Coll. of Music and with Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music (1958–61), he completed his studies with Nono in Venice and worked in the RAI electronic music studio in Milan. Returning to England, he was active as a keyboardist and arranger with Kevin Ayers’s rock band The Whole World. He was a teacher (1968–80) and composer-in-residence (1969–81) at Queen’s Coll. in London. From 1983 he was assoc. visiting composer at the Gordonstoun School in Scotland. In 1986 he became youth music director of the English Sinfonia in London, serving as its composer-in-assoc. from 1994. Bedford is a remarkably facile composer whose interests range from rock to art music, and from film scores to music for the young.
Works
DRAMATIC: Opera: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1978); The Death of Baldur (1979); Firdiofs Saga (1980); The Ragnarok (1982); The Camlann Game (1987); The Return of Odysseus (1988); Anna (1992–93). OTHER: Film scores; television music. ORCH.: This One for You (1965); Gastrula (1968); Star’s End for Electric Guitar, Electric Bass Guitar, Percussion, and Orch. (1974); Alleluia Timpanis (1976); Prelude for a Maritime Nation (1981); Sym. for 12 Musicians (1981); The Valley Sleeper, the Children, the Snakes and the Giant for Chamber Orch. (1983); 2 syms.: No. 1 (1984) and No. 2 for Wind Band (1987); Sun Paints Rainbows on the Vast Waves for Wind Band (1984); Sea and Sky and Golden Hill for Wind Band (1985); Ronde for Isolde for Orch. or Wind Band (1986); The Transfiguration for Chamber Orch., Piano, and Percussion (1988); Toccata for Tristan for Brass Band (1989); In Plymouth Town for Chamber Orch. (1992); Allison’s Overture (1992); Susato Variations (1992); Allison’s Concerto for Trumpet and Orch. (1993); The Goddess of Mahi River for Sitar, Tabla, Flute, Cello, and Chamber Orch. (1994); Recorder Concerto (1995). CHAMBER: 5 for String Quintet (1963); Trona for 12 Players (1967); Pentomino for Wind Quintet (1968); Jack of Shadows for 13 Players (1973); Pancakes, with Butter, Maple Syrup, and Bacon, and the TV Weatherman for Brass Quintet (1973); Circe Variations for Clarinet, Piano, Violin, and Cello (1976); Fridiof Kennings for Saxophone Quartet (1980); String Quartet (1981); Piano Sonata (1981); Pentaguin for Flute or Piccolo, Clarinet, Viola, Harp, and Percussion (1985); For Tess for Brass Quintet (1985); Erkenne Mich for Flute or Alto Flute, Oboe or English Horn, Bass Clarinet, and Vibraphone (1988); Backings for Soprano Saxophone and Tape (1990); Cadenzas and Interludes for 2 Clarinets, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass(1992). other instrumental:The Garden of Love for Flute, Clarinet, Horn, Trumpet, Double Bass, and Rock Band (1969); The Sword of Orion for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, 4 Metronomes, and 32 Percussion Instruments (1970); With 100 Kazoos for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, String Quartet, and 100 Kazoos Played by the Audience (1971); Nurse’s Song with Elephants for 10 Acoustic Guitars and Singer (1971); Variations on a Rhythm by Mike Oldfield for 84 Percussion Instruments and Conductor (1973); The Ones Who Walk Away From Órnelas for 9 Instruments, Electric Guitar, and Electric Bass Guitar (1976); Verses and Choruses for 2 Acoustic Guitars (1986). VOCAL: A Dream of the 7 Lost Stars for Chorus and Chamber Orch. (1964–65); Music for Albion Moonlight for Soprano and 6 Instruments (1965); That White and Radiant Legend for Soprano, Speaker, and 7 Instruments (1966); The Tentacles of the Dark Nebula for Tenor and 8 Instruments (1969); Star Clusters, Nebulae, and Places in Devon for Chorus and Brass or Brass Band (1971); Holy Thursday with Squeakers for Soprano, Electric Piano, Viola or Organ, Soprano Saxophone or Bassoon, and Percussion (1972); When I Heard the Learned Astronomer for Tenor and 14 Instruments (1972); 12 Hours of Sunset for Chorus and Orch. (1974); The Golden Wine is Drunk for 16 Solo Voices (1974); The Odyssey for Chorus and Orch. (1976); On the Beach at Night for 2 Tenors, Piano, and Small Organ (1977); The Way of Truth for Chorus and Electronics (1977–78); OfBeares, Foxes, and Many, Many Wonders for Chorus and Orch. (1978); The Song of the White Horse for Chorus and Orch. (1978); Requiem for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1980); Vocoder Sextet for Vocalist, Vocoder, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, and Viola (1981); Of Stars, Dreams, and Cymbals for Chorus (1982); The Juniper Tree for Soprano, Recorder, and Harpsichord (1982); Into Thy Wondrous House for Soprano, Children’s Chorus, Chorus, and Orch. (1987); The OCD Band and the Minotaur for Soprano and 6 Instruments (1990); Touristen Dachau for Soprano, Men’s Voices, and 6 Instruments (1992); Charm of Grace for 24 Voices (1994). Educational: Seascapes for Strings and 4 School Groups (1986); Frameworks for 2 Oboes, 2 Horns, Strings, and 4 School Orch. Groups (1989–90).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire