Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella [Paperback] [Mar 03, 2016] Cerrie Burnell - Softcover

Burnell, Cerrie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1407162179 ISBN 13: 9781407162171

Publisher: Scholastic, 2016

Synopsis

Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella

About this title

About the Author

Claire “Cerrie” Burnell (born 30 August 1979) in Petts Wood, London, is an English actress, singer, playwright, Children’s author and television presenter for the BBC children’s channel CBeebies. Her mother is a dance teacher, and her father a telecoms manager. She has one younger brother. She was originally named “Claire” but started asking people to call her “Cerrie” at the age of ten.

Burnell was born with her right arm ending slightly below the elbow. Her parents encouraged her to wear a prosthetic arm, but she resisted from the start, and stopped wearing one entirely when she was nine. She says her disability did not hinder her from doing what she wanted, including “sports, swimming, windsurfing, singing in the choice or joining the Army cadets. Burnell also suffered from dyslexia, which left her unable to read until the age of ten. She learned with extra tuition and the Letterland system. As a teenager, she worked as a hotel chambermaid during summers, and travelled widely, working in a leprosy clinic in India, and volunteering in Brazil.

Burnell has a daughter, Amelie, born in 2008.

Review

“A wonderful introduction to chapter books, filled with fun illustrations, young readers . . . will enjoy following Harper as she finds adventure at every turn.”―Calgary Herald

“In this lyrical, action-packed fantasy, Harper is allowed to use her aunt’s Scarlet Umbrella and later discovers that her cat is missing. The Scarlet Umbrella has magical powers; it leads her to the homes of others who are missing cats. As Harper works with her friends to find the felines and bring them home, they observe new strengths in one another. Dreamy Liesel, ‘with tangled, blonde hair and filthy nails,’ implements plans of action with impressive leadership skills. Liesel's poetic brother, Ferdie, is strong and courageous. Nate, who is visually impaired, assists with his ability to hear incredibly soft sounds and maneuver in the darkness. The kids meet and confront the Wild Conductor, who has enchanted the cats. A chase ensues, with Harper and Nate flying across town in the magical Umbrella. Harper uses her musical gifts to lure the cats back with ‘a song of stars and mist and hope. A song that spread across the sky, as if it came from the heavens.’ The kids successfully battle the Wild Conductor and bring the cats home. Line drawings throughout depict the smartly dressed and messy characters. Ample action keeps the story accessible for beginning chapter book readers. Originally published in the United Kingdom, this lively tale is sure to win fans in the United States, from cat lovers to music aficionados to fantasy fans. VERDICT: A winning tale of teamwork and artistry. A solid purchase for most chapter book collections.” –School Library Journal

“This lushly-written, enchanting salute to magic, music and adventure is so intriguing that even this confirmed dog lover was rooting for Harper to be reunited with her beloved cat. I suspect readers of Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella will be left thinking about their own umbrellas in a whole new way.” Nancy Krulik, New York Times bestselling author of Katie Kazoo and Project Droid

“Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella is a magical, musical tale that sings with whimsy and charm! There’s not a wrong note to be found in this boisterous adventure, as children save the day as only children can. Fantastical, effervescent, and fun!” Micol Ostow, author of the Louise Trapeze series

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1407162179
• ISBN 13: 9781407162171
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128