Scholastic teams up with Burnell for new middle-grade series 

Scholastic UK has teamed up with disability ambassador Cerrie Burnell for her “magical” series Unicorn Seekers.  

Editorial director Fiz Osborne purchased world rights from Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge & White. World rights to Lucy Fleming’s illustrations were acquired from Federica Dawson at the Bright Agency. The first novel, Unicorn Seekers: Map of Lost Unicorns, will be published in June 2022.  

Burnell started as a presenter on CBeebies and, since leaving, has appeared in the drama "Doctors", presented documentaries and was appointed as the BBC’s ambassador for disability in 2021. She is now a successful children’s author whose books “feature magical storytelling, inclusive characters and tremendous imagination”. Burnell’s books have been adapted for stage and she was elected the children’s choice overall winner for the SLA Information Book Awards 2021.  

With a cover designed by Fleming, Burnell’s first instalment in the Unicorn Seekers series is for children aged seven and upwards.  

The synopsis reads: “Nine-year-old Elodie Lightfoot thinks she’s seen it all, until the day she sees her first unicorn, and feels the bond between them. While the new powers the bond brings are exciting, they also bring danger. Elodie realises that someone is trying to hunt unicorns and determines to protect her new friend at all costs.” 

"Cerrie has created such a wonderful world in these books,” Osborne said, “children will absolutely love the Unicorn Seekers and we could not be more excited to have signed-up Cerrie for a brilliant new series with gorgeous covers illustrated by Lucy Fleming.” 

Wilson commented: “I am delighted to see Cerrie’s beautiful imaginative world given a new outlet in this irresistible series for younger readers, and know that Scholastic will do a wonderful job of getting the books into the hands of children who will delight in this new adventure.”  

Burnell added: “It’s a story of friendship, secrets, moonlit adventures and the unexpected joy of hiding a unicorn in the bath. I have always loved the mystery and marvel of unicorns. The way they are graceful, powerful and completely enchanting. The way they are mostly invisible except to a precious few... I believe I was lucky enough to glimpse one when I was little and now I get to write about their magic and majesty in a modern setting in one of my favourite city parks.”