About the Author

Born in Belfast, Martin Waddell is widely regarded as one of the greatest living children’s writers, and has over 220 published titles to his name. In 2024 he became the recipient of the An Post Irish Book Awards’ Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to children's literature. He is perhaps best known for Owl Babies, illustrated by Patrick Benson and Farmer Duck, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury; as well as the 1989 Kurt Maschler Award-winning The Park in the Dark and the Little Bear series, both illustrated by Barbara Firth. In 2004, Martin received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for his lasting contribution to children’s literature, the highest career recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children’s books.

Barbara Firth (1928-2013) won the Kate Greenaway Medal for Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? She illustrated over 30 picture books in her lifetime, including You and Me, Little Bear; Sleep Tight, Little Bear; Let's Go Home, Little Bear; Tom Rabbit; and the 1989 Kurt Maschler Award-winning The Park in the Dark.

Reviews

A child's first faltering steps towards independence are poignantly captured. Big Bear and Little Bear have provided a delightful take on some of the critical moments of childhood.
*The Guardian*

A child's first faltering steps towards independence are poignantly captured. Big Bear and Little Bear have provided a delightful take on some of the critical moments of childhood. * The Guardian *

Several favorite characters and series continue this fall. Sleep Tight, Little Bear by Martin Waddell, illus. by Barbara Firth, bring back the duo first introduced in Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? Here Little Bear discovers a new cave, "little-bear-size or just a bit bigger," and asks Big Bear if he can stay in his new hideaway. But they both discover how much they miss each other. A DVD is included. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.