Cerrie Burnell
Cerrie Burnell is an actress and writer best known for her work on CBeebies, a role that has earned her critical recognition and a devoted fan base. Alongside this, she works very closely with a number of charitable organisations linked to childhood and diversity, as Cerrie is passionate about these subjects.
In 2011, Cerrie was named in the Observer’s top ten children’s presenters and in the Guardian’s list of 100 most inspirational women. Cerrie is author in residence for Great Ormond Street hospital and a patron of Polka children’s theatre.
She trained at Manchester Metropolitan and her credits prior to CBeebies include Eastenders, The Bill, Holby City, and Comedy Lab for Channel Four and various plays, including Winged, an original play she wrote and starred in at the Tristan Bates theatre.
Cerrie’s one-woman show The Magical Playroom opened in Edinburgh in 2013 and she has published seven books for children with Scholastic. Harper and the Sea of Secrets was a World Book Day title in 2016. Cerrie recently adapted her picture book Snowflakes for the stage, which was performed at the Oxford Playhouse in December 2016. Harper and the Night Fox was published by Scholastic in 2017, and her most recent novel, The Girl With the Shark’s Teeth, was published by Oxford University Press in January 2019.
Books
Ballet Dreams
Author: Cerrie Burnell
Illustrator: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5-7
One day, a little girl sees the ballet practice for Swan Lake, and decides that all she wants is to become a ballerina. A sparkly, magical book for young dancers, this is the perfect precursor to Noel Streatfield's Ballet Shoes.
Fairy Magic
Author: Cerrie Burnell Illustrator: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 4-6
Reading age: 6+
Isabelle has discovered a fairy called Summer-Blue in a hidden magical world at the bottom of her garden... But will she be able to convince her brothers and sisters? A charming story about fairies, the changing seasons and a little girl who is deaf.
Harper and the Circus of Dreams
Author: Cerrie Burnell Illustrator: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 7-9
Reading age: 7-9
When a magical girl arrives, bringing with her a storm and The Circus of Dreams, Harper and her friends set off on a journey to find out more about the strange world in the sky. A great read with tonnes of magic and drama.
Harper and the Fire Star
Author: Cerrie Burnell Illustrator: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 7-9
Reading age: 7-9
The adventure sees Harper and her band of friends on a quest to help the Wild Conductor regain his place in the circus. However, the task is not a simple one, and the evil ringmaster has other plans.
Harper and the Night Forest
Author: Illustrator: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 8-11
Reading age: 9+
Should Harper help her friend, the Wild Conductor, capture the Ice Raven so he can create beautiful music? Or should she help the maiden cloaked in moonlight find her happy ending? Interesting ethical questions in a fantasy adventure story.
Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella
Author: Cerrie Burnell Illustrator: Lauren Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 7+
This is an endearing book with beautiful black and white illustrations, a light, fairytale-like quality, and a sense there may be more Harper adventures to come.
Mermaid
Author: Cerrie Burnell and Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 6
Luka loves living by the sea, but neither he nor his brothers have ever learned to swim.
Snowflakes
Author: Cerrie Burnell Illustrator: Laura Ellen Anderson
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 6+
Mia has left the noisy city behind, and come to live with her Grandma in a land of forest and snow.
The Girl with the Shark’s Teeth
Author: Cerrie Burnell
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+
When mysterious men kidnap her mother, Minnow has to set sail alone for the magical, dangerous and beautiful Wild Deep. This book is full of lyrical, breathless prose and Burnell’s imagination is marvellous.
The Ice Bear Miracle
Author: Cerrie Burnell
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+
As a child, Marv Jackson survived a polar bear attack on a frozen river - and when he hears about ice skater Tuesday and Promise, her skating polar bear, he's sure he knows them both from somewhere. Full of magic and snowy mystery, Cerrie Burnell's beautiful story spins legend and real life into a fairy tale of family and belonging.