Martin Waddell facts for kids

Martin Waddell, born on April 10, 1941, is a famous children's book writer from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is well-known for his picture books about talking animals, especially the Little Bear series. These books were illustrated by Barbara Firth.

He also writes exciting ghost stories and mystery books for older kids under the name Catherine Sefton. One of his most popular books as Catherine Sefton is the novel In a Blue Velvet Dress, published in 1972.

In 2004, Martin Waddell received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal. This is a very special award given to writers who have made a lasting contribution to children's books.

Martin Waddell's Early Life

Martin Waddell was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has spent most of his life in Newcastle, which is in nearby County Down.

When he was a child, Martin loved animals and was very good at telling stories. This love for stories stayed with him as he grew up. He first dreamed of becoming a professional football player. He even signed with the Fulham F.C. team! He remembers scoring three goals in his first adult football game, but he ended up playing as a goalkeeper.

From Football to Writing

When Martin realized that professional football wasn't his future, he turned to his other passion: writing. He even combined his two loves later in the Napper series, which are children's books about football.

At first, he wrote books for adults. His first big success was a funny thriller called Otley. This book was even made into a movie starring famous actors Tom Courtenay and Romy Schneider.

In the late 1960s, Martin moved back to Northern Ireland. He then started writing books that showed the changes happening in his home country. Soon, his love for storytelling led him to write books for children.

Martin Waddell has faced some tough times in his life. He once said, "I've been blown up, buried alive and had cancer as an adult, and survived all these experiences, so I'm a very lucky man." Many of his stories are inspired by things that have happened in his life or places near the Mourne Mountains where he lives.

Awards and Recognition

Martin Waddell and illustrator Barbara Firth won the Kurt Maschler Award in 1989 for their book The Park in the Dark. This award celebrated British children's books where the words and pictures worked perfectly together.

In 2004, Martin Waddell received the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for writing. This award is given every two years by the International Board on Books for Young People. It is considered the highest honor a children's writer or illustrator can receive for their entire career.

In November 2024, Martin Waddell was given the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 2024 Irish Book Awards. This award recognized his amazing career and all the wonderful books he has written.

Selected Books by Martin Waddell

Martin Waddell has written many popular books for children. Here are some of his well-known series and other picture books:

The Little Bear Series

These picture books were written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Barbara Firth. They were published by Walker Books.

• Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? (1988) – This book won the Smarties Prize for young children.
• Let's Go Home, Little Bear (1991)
• You and Me, Little Bear (1996)
• Well Done, Little Bear (1999); also known as Good Job, Little Bear in the US.
• Sleep Tight, Little Bear (2005)

Mimi Mouse Books

The Mimi Mouse picture books were written by Waddell and illustrated by Leo Hartas.

• Mimi and the Dream House (1995)
• Mimi and the Picnic (1995)
• Mimi's Christmas (1997)

Other Picture Books

• The Park in the Dark (1989), illustrated by Barbara Firth, which won the Kurt Maschler Award.
• Farmer Duck (Walker, 1991), illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. This book won the British Illustrated Children's Book of the Year and the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize.
• Owl Babies (Walker, 1992), illustrated by Patrick Benson.

Novels for Older Readers

Martin Waddell also wrote novels for older children under his pen name, Catherine Sefton.

• In a Blue Velvet Dress (1972), illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert in 1991.
• The Back House Ghosts (1974), illustrated by Anne Yvonne Gilbert in 1991.