Burntwood School

Pupils in year 8 at Burntwood School are developing their journalism and media skills this term. We can't wait to share with you their student reports and other content.

Pupils from an Earlsfield School interview Famous Children’s Author

By Year 8 Media Club Students at Burntwood School

The Author of How To Train Your Dragon, Cressida Cowell, went to Burntwood School to inspire children and encourage a love of reading.

The visit was part of a series of 'meet the author' events for Wandsworth Borough Schools during the Autumn Term. In partnership with Waterstones and Hachette’s Children’s Group, 25 Primary schools were invited from across this year's London Borough of Culture.

Pupils listened to Cressida speak about her wide range of work including her new title Which Way to the Future as well as what it means to be an author.

Cressida is a British Author and has written many popular book series, including Which Way Anywhere and The Wizards Of Once.

Cresida also gave an exclusive interview to Year 8 Media Club Students where she explained her journey and her relationship with books.

She revealed that her books are heavily inspired by her family such as her father, one of her characters called Hiccup (from her best selling series How to train you dragon) is based on him.

Cressida studied English at Keble College, Oxford, and later pursued studies in illustration at Saint Martin's School of Art and recieved an MA in narrative Illustrations at Brighton University. 

Her first book Little Bo Peep's Library Book, which she wrote and illustrated, was published in 1998.

The author advises writing every day and to embrace progress without fear of imperfection. She believes that creating characters and worlds should be guided by curiosity rather than judgment, that mistakes are a part of learning and discovering the story. She emphasises that ideas can start small even simple doodles or notes can evolve into fully formed stories. 