Author research: Martin Waddell

Martin Waddell was born in1941 in Belfast, Northern Ireland He is now an award winning children's author. He has lived most of his life in Newcastle, County Down and is most famous for his creating Big Bear, Little Bear and Little Dracula series.
As a child, Waddell was often told stories in a lively manner. This inspired him and "the love of story" stuck with Waddell ever since. He aspired at a young age to be a football player and signed for Fulham FC youth team.

Martin was born during a bombing raid on Belfast in the middle of the Second World War. The first night of his life was spent under a table with a metal top sheltering him from the bombs.

Waddell writes all kinds of stories for children, including picture books. His books used to be published under two names: Martin Waddell and Catherine Sefton. His Martin Waddell books he describes as 'for amusement only'. He used Catherine Sefton so that he could write serious books that often look at how people relate to one another, and how they deal with different situations.

Martin has lived in Newcastle, County Down, not far outside Belfast for most of his life. As a result, and using his hometown as a background, he has written several novels describing how growing up in an era of political unrest affects the lives of ordinary people and especially teenagers.

Martin also writes ghost stories, largely for the fun that a ghost can add but also to show how the past always affects the present.

One of his most well known books is called can’t you sleep little bear this book won several awards such as the Nestle children’s book prize and the Nestle smarties book prize. I like Martin Waddell’s Children’s books because It seems to be that in most of his books he looks at the relationship between parents and children in a simple way that young children can understand and he always sends messages in his books such as “Can’t you sleep little bear?” that teach children not to be afraid.