Our author of the week is Konnie Huq!
This week former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq is sharing Cookie and the Most Annoying Boy in the World, the first book in the Cookie series that she both wrote and illustrated, as an audiobook. You can listen completely FREE! There's also an exclusive video from Konnie, you can discover her top three recommended children's books and find out more about what she enjoys about reading in a Q&A!
If you enjoy reading this book, your local library service has loads more ebooks to borrow for FREE. Ask your parents to help you join.
Listen to Cookie and the Most Annoying Boy in the World
Cookie thinks her life is over because her best friend is moving to Solihull. She begs her parents for a pet to fill the void and sets her heart on the cutest kitten in the pet shop, Bluey. But then the most ANNOYING boy she's ever met in her entire nine years buys Bluey and renames her Nigel! And then he joins her year at school! If that wasn't bad enough, he then moves in next door to her. AAAAGGGGHHHHH!
But it's not all bad. Cookie gets the chance to go on her favourite TV show, Brainbusters. It's only a chance though - she'll have to win the school science competition first, which shouldn't be too hard. All she has to do is keep her head down, but unfortunately that's not Cookie's strong point...
Listen to the audiobook in three parts below.
Watch the video
Konnie Huq's recommended reads
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The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf
This book beautifully covers a heavy topic with a lightness of touch and a compelling story line. A poignant, timely and important book.
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Kay’s Anatomy: A Complete (and Completely Disgusting) Guide to the Human Body by Adam Kay, illustrated by Henry Paker
A very funny book about our bodies and how they work. Hurrah! Science and comedy for kids, two for the price of one! Laugh-out-loud with fab illustrations.
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Superfudge by Judy Blume
I used to be a reluctant reader before I discovered it and it was the first time I really felt like I could relate to the character. You can feel an affinity and empathy with characters whose shoes you can step into, through reading.
Read a Q&A with Konnie Huq
If you could be a storybook character who would you be?
Mary Lennox from The Secret Garden. She goes on such a journey from being a not very nice person to totally transformed. There are many parallels - I remember my younger self being a way more material and judgemental person than I am now. I like to think that I, like Mary, have become a better person than my former self!
What is the best thing about reading?
Reading can transport you to new worlds you wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to, and puts you in the shoes of other people.
What is your all-time favourite book?
It would be hard to pick a favourite but a seminal favourite would have be To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I read it when I was relatively young and it was the first time I encountered race and racism being overtly addressed in mainstream popular culture. Back then this was very important and refreshing to me.
What can you do to get better at reading?
Read even more!
Download the activities
Enjoyed the book? Now you can have a go at these fun activities!
How to make a potato clock
How to make pancakes
The second book in the Cookie! series, Cookie and the Most Annoying Girl in the World is out now.
