Michael Bedard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Bedard
Born	(1949-06-26) 26 June 1949 (age 75) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Writer
Language	English
Alma mater	University of Toronto
Period	1979–present
Spouse	Martha Crean
Children	4

Michael Bedard (born June 26, 1949) is a Canadian writer known for his captivating books for children and young adults. He was born and grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His stories often blend everyday life with exciting elements of magic and mystery.

About Michael Bedard

Michael Bedard went to the University of Toronto and finished his studies in 1971. He learned about philosophy and English there. He started writing because one of his old high school teachers showed him the amazing poems of Emily Dickinson and T. S. Eliot. These poets inspired him to create his own stories.

Today, Michael Bedard still lives in Toronto with his wife, Martha. They have four children and six grandchildren.

Michael Bedard's Books

Michael Bedard has written many different kinds of books. Some are original stories, while others are his own versions of classic tales. Here are some of his works:

• Woodsedge and Other Tales: A Gathering of Tales (1979) – A collection of stories.
• Pipe and Pearls (1980) – More stories.
• A Darker Magic (1987) – His first novel, a mystery with a magical feel.
• The Lightning Bolt (1989) – Illustrated by Regolo Ricci.
• Redwork (1990) – A novel that won several awards.
• The Tinder Box (1990) – A retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Tinderbox" fairy tale, illustrated by Regolo Ricci.
• The Nightingale (1991) – Another retelling of a Hans Christian Andersen story, "The Nightingale", also illustrated by Regolo Ricci.
• Emily (1992) – A story about the famous poet Emily Dickinson, illustrated by Barbara Cooney.
• Painted Devil (1994) – A sequel to A Darker Magic.
• Glass Town: The Secret World of the Brontë Children (1997) – A book about the childhood of the famous Brontë family writers, illustrated by Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson.
• The Divide (1997) – A story about the writer Willa Cather, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully.
• The Clay Ladies (1999) – Illustrated by Les Tait.
• The Wolf of Gubbio (2000) – Based on a legend about St. Francis of Assisi.
• Stained Glass (2001).
• The Painted Wall and Other Strange Tales (2003) – Retellings of old Chinese stories from Liaozhai Zhiyi by Pu Songling.
• William Blake: The Gates of Paradise (2006) – A book about the artist and poet William Blake.
• The Green Man (2012) – Another sequel to A Darker Magic.

A Darker Magic

A Darker Magic was Michael Bedard's first novel, published in 1987. It's a mysterious story about an old teacher named Miss Potts. She sees a poster for a magic show that reminds her of a sad event from her childhood. She believes the magic show caused a friend's death. With the help of a student named Emily, Miss Potts tries to stop the show from happening. People who read the book say it's full of suspense and keeps you guessing!

Redwork

Redwork, published in 1990, is another one of Michael Bedard's well-known novels. This book won several important awards, including the Governor General's Literary Award and the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award. Reviewers have praised the book for its detailed descriptions and how the story unfolds through conversations between the characters.

The Painted Devil

The Painted Devil is a follow-up to A Darker Magic. It takes place in the same town, Caledon, about 28 years later. In this story, you'll meet Emily, who was a student in the first book, and her niece, Alice. They face new adventures and mysteries in their town.

The Green Man

The Green Man is another sequel to A Darker Magic. This book follows Emily's niece, Ophelia. She finds herself battling a new generation of the same dangerous magic that her Aunt Emily faced when she was younger. The story explores poetry, family connections, and a puzzling mystery. It's considered one of Michael Bedard's best works.

Awards and Honors

Michael Bedard's books have won several awards:

• Redwork
  • Governor General's Literary Award, Canada, 1990
  • Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award for Children, 1991
  • IODE Violet Downey Book Award, 1991
• The Nightingale
  • IODE Children's Book Award, 1991 (for Michael Bedard and illustrator Regolo Ricci)
• The Clay Ladies
  • IODE Children's Book Award, 1999 (for Michael Bedard and illustrator Les Tait)
• The Green Man
  • IODE Violet Downey Book Award, 2013