Leila Berg
Encyclopedia
Leila Berg is a British children's author
, known also as a journalist
and writer
on education
and children's rights
. She began writing in a more realistic and gritty style, for younger children, in the 1960s, in the Nippers series of readers in an influential move designed to bring children's books closer to ordinary, real, urban life, and away from the Janet and John
reader style. (And, probably, the comforts of Enid Blyton
's world, a ubiquitous influence of the period.) She was awarded the Eleanor Farjeon
Medal in 1973 for her work.
She was brought up in Salford, Lancashire
in a Jewish doctor's family; she wrote vividly about this part of her life in Flickerbook (1997). There she describes also later meetings in Cambridge through her older brother, particularly with Margot Heinemann
, and J. B. S. Haldane
whom she would reference obliquely in the early Chunky books. She associated with Young Communist League
members at the time of the Spanish Civil War
(in which she lost two lovers) and eventually joined it. Her first job as a journalist was with the British communist daily paper The Daily Worker (later renamed The Morning Star).
She was influenced in her thinking by psychologist
Susan Isaacs
. After working as a journalist in World War II
, during which she married and started a family, she started to write children's fiction. She also took an interest in the progressive education movement of A. S. Neill
, Michael Duane
, head of Risinghill School
, and John Holt
. She became children's editor for the publisher Methuen. As she said, All my life I have sought to empower children (speech at honorary degree ceremony, University of Essex
).
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, known also as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
on education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and children's rights
Children's rights
Children's rights are the human rights of children with particular attention to the rights of special protection and care afforded to the young, including their right to association with both biological parents, human identity as well as the basic needs for food, universal state-paid education,...
. She began writing in a more realistic and gritty style, for younger children, in the 1960s, in the Nippers series of readers in an influential move designed to bring children's books closer to ordinary, real, urban life, and away from the Janet and John
Janet and John
Janet and John are the main characters in a series of reading books for children aged 4–7 years.-Origin:Originally, these stories were published by Row Peterson and Company as the Alice and Jerry books in the USA....
reader style. (And, probably, the comforts of Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
's world, a ubiquitous influence of the period.) She was awarded the Eleanor Farjeon
Eleanor Farjeon
Eleanor Farjeon was an English author of children's stories and plays, poetry, biography, history and satire. Many of her works had charming illustrations by Edward Ardizzone. Some of her correspondence has also been published...
Medal in 1973 for her work.
She was brought up in Salford, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in a Jewish doctor's family; she wrote vividly about this part of her life in Flickerbook (1997). There she describes also later meetings in Cambridge through her older brother, particularly with Margot Heinemann
Margot Heinemann
Margot Claire Heinemann was a British Marxist writer, drama scholar, and leading member of the Communist Party of Great Britain ....
, and J. B. S. Haldane
J. B. S. Haldane
John Burdon Sanderson Haldane FRS , known as Jack , was a British-born geneticist and evolutionary biologist. A staunch Marxist, he was critical of Britain's role in the Suez Crisis, and chose to leave Oxford and moved to India and became an Indian citizen...
whom she would reference obliquely in the early Chunky books. She associated with Young Communist League
Young Communist League
The Young Communist League was or is the name used by the youth wing of various Communist parties around the world. The name YCL of XXX was generally taken by all sections of the Communist Youth International.Examples of YCLs:...
members at the time of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
(in which she lost two lovers) and eventually joined it. Her first job as a journalist was with the British communist daily paper The Daily Worker (later renamed The Morning Star).
She was influenced in her thinking by psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
Susan Isaacs
Susan Sutherland Isaacs
Susan Sutherland Isaacs, CBE was a Lancashire-born educational psychologist and psychoanalyst. She published studies on the intellectual and social development of children and promoted the nursery school movement...
. After working as a journalist in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which she married and started a family, she started to write children's fiction. She also took an interest in the progressive education movement of A. S. Neill
A. S. Neill
Alexander Sutherland Neill was a Scottish progressive educator, author and founder of Summerhill school, which remains open and continues to follow his educational philosophy to this day...
, Michael Duane
Michael Duane (head teacher)
Michael Duane was a British teacher known for his progressive educational views, his belief in inclusivity and a multi-racial approach, his encouragement of informal relationships between staff and pupils and his opposition to corporal punishment...
, head of Risinghill School
Risinghill School
Risinghill School was an early Comprehensive school opened in 1960 in Islington, under the headmastership of Michael Duane; a charismatic advocate of progressive and non-authoritarian education. The school's methods prompted criticism in the media and disputes with the London County Council...
, and John Holt
John Caldwell Holt
John Caldwell Holt was an American author and educator, a proponent of homeschooling, and a pioneer in youth rights theory.-Biography:...
. She became children's editor for the publisher Methuen. As she said, All my life I have sought to empower children (speech at honorary degree ceremony, University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
).
Works
- Fourteen What-Do-You-Know Stories (1948)
- The Adventures of Chunky (1950)
- The Nightingale and other stories (1951)
- The Tired Train and Other Listen With Mother and Let's Join In Stories (1952)
- Trust Chunky (1954)
- Fire Engine by Mistake (1955)
- Lollipops: Stories and Poems (1957)
- Andy's Pit Pony (1958)
- A Box for Benny (1958)
- The Hidden Road (1958)
- Little Pete Stories (1959)
- Four Feet & Two and Some with None, an Anthology of Verse (1960) editor
- Three Men Went to Work (1966)
- Folk Tales for Reading & Telling (1966)
- My Dog Sunday (1968)
- Finding a Key (1968) Nippers series
- Jimmy's Story (1968) Nippers series
- The Jumble Sale (1968) Nippers series
- Risinghill: Death of a Comprehensive School (1968)
- Raising Hell Play, commissioned by SalisburySalisburySalisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
Playhouse, based on the Risinghill book (1969) - Neill Summerhill: A Man and His Work. A Pictorial Study (1969) with John WalmsleyJohn WalmsleyJohn William Walmsley was an English professional association footballer who played predominantly as a wing half. Born in Accrington, he initially played Sunday league football for St Paul's and Accrington St Peter's...
- Bouncing (1971) Nippers series
- Children's Rights: Toward the Liberation of the Child (1971) with Paul Adams, Nan Berger, Michael DuaneMichael Duane (head teacher)Michael Duane was a British teacher known for his progressive educational views, his belief in inclusivity and a multi-racial approach, his encouragement of informal relationships between staff and pupils and his opposition to corporal punishment...
, A.S. Neill, Robert Ollendorff - The Train Back: A Search for Parents (1972) with Pat Chapman
- Look at Kids (1972)
- The Little Car (1974)
- The Little Car Has a Day Out (1974)
- Tracy's Story (1974) Nippers series
- Reading and Loving (1976)
- Tales for Telling (1983)
- Vacuum Cleaners (1985)
- Blood and Bandages (1986)
- Time for One More (1992)
- Flickerbook (1997) autobiography 1917-1939
- God Stories: A Celebration of Legends (1999)
- Julie's Story Nippers Series
- Backwards and Forwards: Children Talking, Older People Remembering and Writing, editor