Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders has lent her voice to one of Amazon’s best-selling books in an effort to work towards her goal ‘of doing more for the planet’.
Comedy icon Jennifer Saunders has lent her voice to a new audiobook aimed at encouraging youngsters to reduce their plastic usage. During a recent episode of her popular ‘Titting About’ podcast with Dawn French, Saunders revealed her goal for the year was to make a positive impact on the environment.
First-time author Bertie Stephens was inspired by her comments and reached out to ask if she’d be interested in narrating the audiobook version of his debut book, Ellie Ment and the Material Matter . The book, which targets readers aged 9-14, has already become a bestseller on Amazon since its release in June, with the audiobook released earlier this week.
The tale blends science and fantasy, earning praise for its ability to spark kids’ interest in STEM subjects and environmental issues. Saunders, who accepted Bertie’s offer to narrate the audiobook, said: “I loved Ellie from page one.”
She added: “It’s funny and a bit mischievous, but it sneaks big ideas in too – how science works, what we owe the planet, and why asking questions matters.
“If a good yarn can make kids curious enough to try an experiment or think twice about their plastic usage, that’s a win.”
On her podcast, Saunders had said: “[This year] I’m going to do more for the planet – that’s my plan.”
She’s already made changes at home, stating: “I don’t have toothpaste anymore, I have little toothpaste pills. I just use soap. I don’t use any big shower gel plasticky things, and I don’t use plastic in my washing up liquids. I don’t use it in anything.”
The audiobook was launched with a video trailer featuring The Clean Planet Orchestra, who provided a bespoke soundtrack for the book composed by musician Joe Hogan.
Since its release over the summer, Ellie Ment and the Material Matter has been embraced by clubs and schools in both the UK and USA, even becoming the inaugural reading material for over 1,000 students across seven states in America.
The book has soared to the top spot on Amazon’s charts in both the UK and the US, boasting a 4.7-star rating on Goodreads and earning a coveted “Get It” recommendation from Kirkus Reviews.
It also bagged the highest accolade at the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, considered the most prestigious and longest-running national awards scheme in America dedicated solely to children’s literature.
Much of the book’s success can be attributed to social media, where snippets and recommendations have been shared on accounts with millions of combined followers.
Popular school influencer Holly Hos (@thehos), who boasts a whopping 1.5 million followers on TikTok, gave the book a shout-out, racking up over 10,000 likes and comments across her social media platforms.
A representative from the Clean Planet Foundation, the publisher of the book, explained that the non-profit organisation uses storytelling as a tool to spark children’s interest in environmental issues and science
They said: “This STEM book gives more young people the chance to see that science can be every bit as magical as fantasy, and important for helping the environment around them.
“Adding Jennifer’s incredible voice to the audiobook will help thousands more children discover Ellie’s story and the magic that already exists in the world around them.”
Source: Mirror
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