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Bernard Ashley
Bernard Ashley was bombed out of his school in the Second World
War. He went to 14 different primary schools because he was
evacuated in and out of London during the war.
It didn't put him off school though. Bernard trained
as a teacher and went on to be the head teacher of three primary
schools. His wife has been head teacher of two schools and he has
two sons who are both head teachers. Bernard knows a lot about
schools!
Bernard was born in South London and has never moved
very far away. At school he describes himself as “a
conforming coward who didn't work hard enough”. Originally he
wanted to be an actor, but teaching is quite like acting and
Bernard enjoyed it, before retiring to write full-time.
Bernard has been writing since 1965 when he sold some
short stories, but his first book was published in 1975. Since then
Bernard has written over two-dozen books. He likes to tell stories
that are full of excitement and drama, but which also show how a
child copes with a crisis point in his or her life.
Bernard has always been committed to supporting and
promoting multi-cultural children's books. He won one of the first
Other Awards for The Trouble with Donovan Croft, the story of a
West Indian boy who becomes mute when a white family adopts him.
Almost all of his stories are set in the Charlton area of London
where he lives and has taught, and which he knows so well.
Bad Blood
Richie's dad has leukaemia. Only one thing will save him and that's a bone marrow transplant from a close male relative. The question is, which relative? Richie has a lot of hard thinking to do before he can make the right choice. A tough book confronting serious issues. (13+)
Published by Walker Books Ltd
King Rat
It's only a pantomime, but Josh is terrified by King Rat. He's bigger and scarier than anything Josh could have imagined and he certainly won't risk going back to the theatre ever again. His sister laughs at him for being frightened of something that's pretend, but Josh has the last laugh when it turns out that she's frightened of something too. (7+)
Published by Collins
Justin Strikes Again
Football-crazy Justin has two big problems on his mind: the all important dads-and-lads football match, and an embarrassing grandad. A funny story about families and football, this is a sequel to Justin and the Demon Drop Kick and Justin and the Big Fight. (9+)
Published in Puffin Books
Johnnie's Blitz
When the watch goes missing, Johnnie is wrongly accused of stealing it. He's locked up and misses being evacuated with everyone else. But Johnnie is determined to clear his name. Can he do it and who will help him? An exciting story of courage and independence. (9+)
Published in Puffin Books
Dinner Ladies Don't Count
Two contemporary stories about school life: Jason has to prove that he didn't take Donna's birthday cards, and Linda tells a lie about why she can't go on the school trip. Both tales deal with the small dramas that can happen every day at any school - and explain why they might happen. (7+)
Published in Puffin Books
Little Soldier
Giving a chilling insight into the horrific background of many refugees, this is the story of Kaninda who, surviving a brutal attack on his village in which the rest of his family are killed, is forced to join the rebel army. His escape comes when he is brought to England to start a new life in London's Docklands. But there are tribal wars here, too, and Kaninda has to learn new ways of fighting in this strange, new environment. (12+)
Published in Orchard Books
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[ Windows Media Clip 1- Little Soldier ]
[ Windows Media Clip 2- I like to write about real life ]
[ Windows Media Clip 3- I got to know what children are like ]
[ Windows Media Clip 4- There was a link between me and Robin Hood ]
