Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella from Cerrie Burnell, with delightful illustrations from Laura Ellen Anderson, is a wonderfully lyrical chapter book full of imagination and wonder.
The narrative flows beautifully as it tells the story of a young girl called Harper who lives in the City of Clouds. Harper lives high up in the Tall Apartment Block with her Aunt Sassy. One thing you need to know about the City of Clouds is that it rains. Always. The rain here is a beautiful thing, ‘pouring down water that was good enough to drink.’ The residents even have quite charming names for the different types of rain including Summer Dew and Heartbeat.
The consequence of having constant rain is the essential need for an umbrella. So when Aunt Sassy, rushing off in her helicopter, realises Harper’s is broken she points her towards the scarlet umbrella – the one that has been under lock and key for as long as Harper can remember. That umbrella? Think Mary Poppins and you’ll know how special it is.
Harper’s new discovery becomes essential when her beloved cat goes missing. Strangely enough, all the cats from the City of Clouds have disappeared. As Harper sets out to discover what has happened, she forms friendships with the eclectic group of children in her apartment. Her journey takes her on a myriad of adventures involving beautiful music, a very strange conductor and a cat playing the bagpipes.
Burnell’s carefully woven narrative whisks the readers in and out of Harper’s fantastical adventures with such beautiful language. Anderson’s pencil illustrations, dotted throughout the pages, add a delightful energy.
Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella is an enchanting novel about forming friendships, and having adventures.
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