Kathleen Fidler facts for kids

Kathleen Fidler (born Kathleen Annie Fidler Goldie) was a super popular author who wrote over 80 books for kids! She was born on August 10, 1899, and passed away on August 7, 1980.

Her Early Life and Career

Kathleen Annie Fidler was born in a place called Coalville, in Leicestershire, England. She grew up in Wigan and went to Wigan Girls High School. Later, she studied at St. Mary's College in Bangor, North Wales.

After finishing her education, Kathleen became a teacher. She taught at St. Paul's Girl's School in Wigan. From 1924 to 1930, she was even the headmistress of the Scot Lane Evening Institute.

In 1930, she married James H. Goldie. Soon after, they moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. This is where her writing journey really began! She started making up stories for her own children. Eventually, they settled in Lasswade in Midlothian, where her husband worked as a bank manager. Kathleen and James had one daughter and one son.

Becoming a Beloved Author

During her career, Kathleen Fidler wrote more than 80 books! Many of these were exciting adventure novels for children. She often wrote about two main families: The Brydons and The Deans. Readers loved her books because she did amazing research. This made her stories feel very real and detailed. Kathleen also wrote scripts for the BBC, which is a big broadcasting company.

Stories That Last

Kathleen Fidler passed away on August 7, 1980. To honor her work and her support for children's books, her publishers and a group called the Edinburgh Children's Book Group created the Kathleen Fidler Award. This award helped new authors get their novels published for children aged 8 to 12. The award ran until 2002.

Even today, children still read Kathleen Fidler's books! They are still being published and are often taught in schools across Scotland. Her stories continue to inspire young readers.

Exploring Her Books

Kathleen Fidler wrote many different series and standalone books. Here are some of her most famous works. All the dates below show when the books were first published. Most of her books were first released by The Lutterworth Press.

The Brydons Adventures

This series follows the exciting adventures of the Brydon family.

• The Borrowed Garden (1944)
• St. Jonathan’s In The Country (1945)
• The Brydons At Smugglers Creek (1945)
• More Adventures Of The Brydons (1947)
• The Brydons Go Camping (1948)
• The Brydons Do Battle (1949)
• The Brydons In Summer (1949)
• The Brydons Look For Trouble (1950)
• The Brydons In A Pickle (1950)
• Surprises For The Brydons (1950)
• The Brydons Get Things Going (1951)
• The Brydons Hunt For Treasure (1951)
• The Brydons Catch Queer Fish (1952)
• The Brydons Stick At Nothing (1952)
• The Brydons Abroad (1953)
• The Brydons On The Broads (1955)
• Challenge To The Brydons (1956)
• The Brydons At Blackpool (1960)
• The Brydons Go Canoeing (1963)

The Deans Mysteries

Join the Deans family as they solve mysteries and face dangers!

• The Deans Move In (1953)
• The Deans Follow A Clue (1954)
• The Deans Solve A Mystery (1954)
• The Deans Defy Danger (1955)
• The Deans Dive For Treasure (1956)
• The Deans To The Rescue (1957)
• The Deans Lighthouse Adventure (1959)
• The Deans And Mr. Popple (1960)
• The Deans Dutch Adventure (1962)

The Mr. Simister Tales

These books feature the mysterious character of Mr. Simister.

• The Mysterious Mr. Simister (1947)
• Mr. Simister Appears Again (1948)
• Mr. Simister Is Unlucky (1949)

Other Exciting Reads

Kathleen Fidler also wrote many other popular books, including:

• The Boy With the Bronze Axe (1968) (This story is set in Skara Brae, an ancient village!)
• Flash the Sheep Dog
• Haki the Shetland Pony
• The Boy with the Bronze Axe
• The Desperate Journey