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Children's Authors
Cerrie Burnell (she/her)
ID: A woman with shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes smiles as she holds up a golden key in the flat palm of her left hand. She wears a floral shirt and a denim dress. Her right arm is amputated at the elbow.
Cerrie Burnell is an English actress, singer, playwright, children's author, and former television presenter for the BBC children's channel CBeebies. In 2018, she portrayed the role of Penny Stevenson in the BBC soap opera Doctors. In 2020, she published 'I Am Not a Label' which will be released as a paperback edition in 2021.
Burnell was born with a right arm that ends just 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. Burnell also suffered from dyslexia, which left her unable to read until the age of 10. She learned with extra tuition and the Letterland system.
Cerrie Burnell is an English actress, singer, playwright, children's author, and former television presenter for the BBC children's channel CBeebies. In 2018, she portrayed the role of Penny Stevenson in the BBC soap opera Doctors. In 2020, she published 'I Am Not a Label' which will be released as a paperback edition in 2021.
Burnell was born with a right arm that ends just 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. Burnell also suffered from dyslexia, which left her unable to read until the age of 10. She learned with extra tuition and the Letterland system.
Sinead Burke (she/her)
ID: A woman with achondroplasia with her hands placed on her hips. She had mid length brown hair and is wearing a black dress with beaded trim.
Burke graduated from Marino Institute of Education at the top of her class, receiving the Vere Foster Medal. She is completing a PH.D. in Human Rights Education at Trinity College in Dublin. Her book, 'Break the Mould: How to take your place in the world' (October 2020) provides valuable and empathetic life lessons that reach children of all shapes and sizes.
Through writing, public speaking and social media, Burke highlights the lack of inclusivity within the fashion industry and encourages the industry to design for and with disabled people. She critiques the ways in which the media talks about and to women, offering an alternative conversation that celebrates the achievements of others with her "Extraordinary Women" interview series.
Burke graduated from Marino Institute of Education at the top of her class, receiving the Vere Foster Medal. She is completing a PH.D. in Human Rights Education at Trinity College in Dublin. Her book, 'Break the Mould: How to take your place in the world' (October 2020) provides valuable and empathetic life lessons that reach children of all shapes and sizes.
Through writing, public speaking and social media, Burke highlights the lack of inclusivity within the fashion industry and encourages the industry to design for and with disabled people. She critiques the ways in which the media talks about and to women, offering an alternative conversation that celebrates the achievements of others with her "Extraordinary Women" interview series.
Elle McNicoll (she/her)
ID: A woman with long brunette hair is sat facing the camera. She is smiling, closed-mouthed. She wears a black top and white pinstripe trousers. Behind her are shelves filled with colourful books.
Elle McNicoll is a Scottish, Neurodivergent writer. After completing her Masters dissertation on the lack of Own Voices representation for Neurodivergent children, she grew tired of the lack of inclusivity in the industry and wrote a book herself. Her first children's novel, 'A Kind of Spark', was published by the indie press Knights Of in June 2020 and it features two openly autistic young women. It was chosen as Blackwell's June 2020 Children's Book of the Month and Waterstones' October Children's Book of the Month. It was also chosen by the Times and the Sunday Times' Children's Book of the Week. Her second book, 'Show Us Who You Are', was published earlier this year (2021) in March.
Elle McNicoll is a Scottish, Neurodivergent writer. After completing her Masters dissertation on the lack of Own Voices representation for Neurodivergent children, she grew tired of the lack of inclusivity in the industry and wrote a book herself. Her first children's novel, 'A Kind of Spark', was published by the indie press Knights Of in June 2020 and it features two openly autistic young women. It was chosen as Blackwell's June 2020 Children's Book of the Month and Waterstones' October Children's Book of the Month. It was also chosen by the Times and the Sunday Times' Children's Book of the Week. Her second book, 'Show Us Who You Are', was published earlier this year (2021) in March.
Polly Dunbar (she/her)
ID: A woman with chin-length, curly blonde hair smiles at the camera with her head turned to one side. She is wearing a black top, and stands against a grey background.
Polly Dunbar is an author/illustrator working in the UK, she has created many much loved books for children. Her recent release includes 'Can Bears Ski?' a children’s book about a deaf bear. Polly began to lose her hearing in her early twenties. Polly was born in the Cotswolds and grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon. After school, she completed a foundation course at Norwich School of Art and then went on to do a degree in illustration at Brighton University.
Polly's bestselling book, 'Penguin', has won numerous awards including the Book Trust Early Year's Award 2007, the Nestle Silver Children's Book Prize 2007, the Practical Pre-School Award 2007, the Red House Children's Book of the Year Award 2008 and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
In 2009 Polly was chosen as one of Booktrust's Ten Best illustrators and in 2011 she was Booktrust Writer in Residence. She is also co-founder of Long Nose Puppets, the award winning theatre company. They have made successful adaptations of the books 'Shoe Baby', 'Fly Away Katie', 'Penguin' and 'Arthur's Dream Boat'.
Polly Dunbar is an author/illustrator working in the UK, she has created many much loved books for children. Her recent release includes 'Can Bears Ski?' a children’s book about a deaf bear. Polly began to lose her hearing in her early twenties. Polly was born in the Cotswolds and grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon. After school, she completed a foundation course at Norwich School of Art and then went on to do a degree in illustration at Brighton University.
Polly's bestselling book, 'Penguin', has won numerous awards including the Book Trust Early Year's Award 2007, the Nestle Silver Children's Book Prize 2007, the Practical Pre-School Award 2007, the Red House Children's Book of the Year Award 2008 and was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
In 2009 Polly was chosen as one of Booktrust's Ten Best illustrators and in 2011 she was Booktrust Writer in Residence. She is also co-founder of Long Nose Puppets, the award winning theatre company. They have made successful adaptations of the books 'Shoe Baby', 'Fly Away Katie', 'Penguin' and 'Arthur's Dream Boat'.
Steve Antony (he/him)
ID: A man with tousled brunette hair smiles directly at the camera. He is wearing a black shirt with a red tie. Behind him are shelves filled with books.
Steve Antony is an award-winning author and illustrator of 20 picture books and best known for his ongoing 'Mr Panda' series which has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. His other books include the award-winning modern classic 'The Queen's Hat', 'Unplugged', 'Amazing' and 'Green Lizards Vs Red Rectangles'. Steve also illustrated the all-new 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' (adapted by Peter Bently), Tim Minchin's 'When I Grow Up' and a 70th anniversary cover of 'The Famous Five'.
He has contributed work towards LGBTQ+ anthology 'Proud', 'Drawing Europe Together' and 'Kind'. Steve is Swindon Libraries Patron to Children's Reading Services, an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust and a committee member of The Society of Author's Children's Writers and Illustrator's Group.
Ironically, Steve is red-green colour blind.
Steve Antony is an award-winning author and illustrator of 20 picture books and best known for his ongoing 'Mr Panda' series which has sold over 1 million copies worldwide. His other books include the award-winning modern classic 'The Queen's Hat', 'Unplugged', 'Amazing' and 'Green Lizards Vs Red Rectangles'. Steve also illustrated the all-new 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' (adapted by Peter Bently), Tim Minchin's 'When I Grow Up' and a 70th anniversary cover of 'The Famous Five'.
He has contributed work towards LGBTQ+ anthology 'Proud', 'Drawing Europe Together' and 'Kind'. Steve is Swindon Libraries Patron to Children's Reading Services, an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust and a committee member of The Society of Author's Children's Writers and Illustrator's Group.
Ironically, Steve is red-green colour blind.
Rose Robbins (she/her)
ID: A woman with chin-length reddish-brown hair smilles at the camera. She is wearing gold-framed glasses and a top with yellow, pink and green flowers on. The background is pink with white creatures printed on.
Rose Robbins trained as a facilitator of peer support groups for adult siblings with charity 'Sibs'. Although Robbins grew up with a disabled sibling, these groups provided her with further insight into lives similar to hers. Her first book, 'Me and My Sisters', whilst not an exact reflection of her own upbringing, aims to resonate with those who have disabled siblings within their home. Following her initial book release, she spoke to her GP about her own neurological make-up and was later diagnosed with Autism. She has since published 'Talking is Not My Thing', listed under Book Trust's 12 best books of the year with a positive outlook on disability.
Rose Robbins trained as a facilitator of peer support groups for adult siblings with charity 'Sibs'. Although Robbins grew up with a disabled sibling, these groups provided her with further insight into lives similar to hers. Her first book, 'Me and My Sisters', whilst not an exact reflection of her own upbringing, aims to resonate with those who have disabled siblings within their home. Following her initial book release, she spoke to her GP about her own neurological make-up and was later diagnosed with Autism. She has since published 'Talking is Not My Thing', listed under Book Trust's 12 best books of the year with a positive outlook on disability.
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