My Monster and Me

This would be a great book to share at home and in a learning setting. It could result in a child expressing how they truly feel and equally a great one representing that talking about your feelings really matters.Ella Bailey’s expressive illustrations truly bring the story to life and are in keeping with its target audience of young readers. It’s also great to see a diverse male character as the main character highlighting that we all have feelings and can all be emotional regardless of our gender.

Nadiya Hussain (Author)

Never again will she say she can’t. Nadiya can and she will.

Nadiya Hussain’s delicious bakes and desserts, captivating smile and sparkling personality made her a hugely popular winner of 2015’s Great British Bake Off.

Her first children’s book, Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story, hit the bestseller charts in 2016, and was shortlisted for a British Book Award. The follow-up, Bake Me a Festive Story, is out now. She has also published cookbooks for adults and novels, and has three television series to her name, The Chronicles of Nadiya, Nadiya’s British Food Adventure and The Big Family Cooking Showdown. Having suffered with panic disorder herself for as long as she can remember, Nadiya wrote her first picture book, My Monster and Me, to help give children and parents the tools they need to talk about worries and anxiety.

Nadiya’s family is originally from Bangladesh, where desserts aren’t a feature of mealtimes. But, encouraged by a school home economics teacher, Nadiya honed her skills as a baker over ten years and produces fabulous bakes and desserts every day. She also loves to write, having won a National Poetry competition as a child.

Nadiya lives with her husband, Abdal and is mum to three gorgeous children.

Ella Bailey (Illustrator)

Ella Bailey is a freelance illustrator based in Nottingham in the UK. Since graduating with a degree in Illustration from Falmouth University, Ella has worked with Simon and Schuster UK and Flying Eye Books, as well as Magma for Laurence King.