Description
The start of a brilliantly funny new kids series written and illustrated by much loved BBC Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq
'Smart, funny and full of warmth, just like its author' David Walliams
'A fresh and very funny story . . . it's clearly going to be a BIG HIT' Jacqueline Wilson
Cookie's life is basically over.
Her best friend in the whole world is moving to Solihull because one of her dads has a new job there. Solihull?! Where even is that?! Cookie begs her parents for a pet to fill the void but they have given her an absolute NO. It would be way too expensive and way way too messy.
But Cookie has never been a fan of the word 'no' so she visits the pet shop anyway and sets her heart on the sweetest cutest kitteniest kitten ever: Bluey. But then . . . DISASTER! The most ANNOYING boy she's ever met in her entire nine years goes into the pet shop, buys Bluey and renames her Nigel! And then he joins her year at school! And if that wasn't bad enough, he 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. It shouldn't be too hard . . . all she has to do is keep her head down, and not get too over-excited.
Unfortunately that's not Cookie's strong point . . .
A brilliantly funny new series written and illustrated by BBC Blue Peter's Konnie Huq, featuring chaotic family life and madcap school science projects!
About the Author
As the longest serving female Blue Peter presenter, from 1997 to 2008, Konnie Huq is no stranger to the middle-grade market. She is an ambassador for the Prince's Trust and the British Asian Trust. This is her first foray into children's books and Cookie is inspired by Konnie's own London Bangladeshi background, her love of science and her unashamed nerdiness!
Reviews
Smart, funny and full of warmth, just like its author. -- David Walliams
A fresh and very funny story about an endearing British Bangladeshi nine-year-old - it's clearly going to be a BIG HIT. -- Jacqueline Wilson
Totally funny and charming and relatable. The book that is. Not the boy, he's really annoying. -- David Baddiel
Everybody's going to fall in love with Cookie. She's clever and funny and just can't seem to get anything right. -- Charlie Higson
Konnie should have been writing children's books way sooner. This brilliantly funny adventure had me laughing out loud and momentarily questioning whether cats are in fact better than dogs. They're not, but Bluey/Nigel nearly had me convinced I'd been wrong all my life. -- Greg James
Snappier than a ginger snap, crazy as a cracker, a biscuit barrel full of fun. -- Frank Cottrell Boyce
Cookie - a lass with sass who'll inspire girls and boys alike (and make mums and dads laugh too) ... daft and funny for all. -- Zoe Ball
If I was 9 yrs old ( and who's to say I'm not..?) I'd want Cookie to be my very best friend. FACT. Funny, clever and a proper drama queen, I love her! -- Dawn French
Side-splittingly funny and supremely science-y * Adam Kay *
It's tough learning how to negotiate friendships, yearning and disappointment and we need stories like this when growing up to help us learn how to do it. Favourite bit was when Konnie - sorry, COOKIE - blurts everything out to the head in her confession/explanation. I remember similar blurtings from my own childhood which were not as kindly received. A good reminder how kindness and understanding from adults are more useful than sternness. -- Philippa Perry
Konnie Huq is a brilliant, funny, sparkling star-burst of delight and ideas and positive energy. I am so excited that she's started writing novels. -- Victoria Coren Mitchell
If you like Tom Gates, you will love Cookie. Konnie Huq's sparky irreverent heroine, fizzing with personality, is a delight. And the pics are pretty funny too -- Meera Syal
Cookie is brilliantly warm and funny. Wonderful to see a children's book that properly embraces diversity and makes outsiders cool -- Shappi Khorsandi
Fantastic! A tremendous read. I would have loved this book when I was a child. * Geoff Lloyd, BBC Radio 5 Live *
These comic-style illustrated adventures have a Wimpy Kid with science vibe * WRD magazine *
Cookie Haque loves science and her best friend Keziah, hates birds and the annoying boy who's moved in next door, and she really wants to appear on Brainbusters, her favourite TV show. This is the story of when everything goes horribly wrong in her life.
Told in the first person, with great doodles, notes and cartoons (there's even an appendix with recipes and science projects), Cookie's story is engaging, funny and relatable. It's like having one long conversation with a friend who gets really excited about her favourite things (and not-so-favourite people). I'd recommend it to pre-teen readers and fans of the Wimpy Kid books. It would be fun to read together at bedtime, and could lead to some interesting conversations!
?
Cookie's story is fast-paced, with plot twists and misunderstandings galore. Science competitions, TV appearances, kleptomaniac teachers, disappearing fish, cats (both real and make-believe), best friends and new friends; there's lots of real-life experiences that readers will identify with and learn from.
?
This is former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq's first children's book. There's autobiographical elements to the character of Cookie and her story (Huq was on Blockbusters as a teenager!), and it's refreshing to read about a Muslim, science-loving heroine. As Shappi Korshandi says in the reviews at the front, "Wonderful to see a children's book that properly embraces diversity and makes outsiders cool."
?
There's definitely scope for more Cookie adventures; the nine-year old I lent the book to said she'd definitely read a sequel.
Hands-down one of the most brilliantly funny and engaging children's books I've ever read * Honest Mum *
A funny, inspiring read with a scientific twist * Booktrust Great Reads Guide 2019 *
Oh I do wish these books were around when I was a kid. Cookie is an unashamedly geeky, plus wonderfully sassy and dramatic, central character. Because it's so funny and smart you don't notice that the book is utterly packed with stealthy STEM learning. -- Adam Kay * Waterstones *
With lots of chaotic family adventures, a madcap science school project and comic illustrations kids will adore, it's an entertaining and positive read they'll whizz through in no time. -- Zoe West * Good to Know *
Book Information
ISBN 9781848128828
Author Konnie Huq
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint Piccadilly Press
Publisher Bonnier Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 336g
Dimensions(mm) 204mm * 138mm * 26mm
