Stories for Your Little Ones! Here Are 17 Celebrities Who Have Written Children's Books
The actress and avid book reader has written her first children's book that's based on her adventures as a child. Witherspoon announced that her picture book, Busy Betty, will be published by Flamingo Books on Oct. 4.
"I've been thinking about creating a children's book with realistic young female characters since I had my daughter," Witherspoon told PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. "When I was a kid, I had a busy brain with a million ideas and more energy than most adults could manage so, Betty is really based on adventures from my childhood."
Busy Betty, which is illustrated by Xindi Yan, follows a little girl who realizes she needs to give her smelly dog Frank a bath before her friend Mae arrives. "But giving Frank a bath is harder than she thought," reads the book description, "and just when everything seems impossible, with Mae's help, Betty learns she can accomplish anything with perseverance, teamwork, and one great idea."
Shop It! pre-order Busy Betty ($19.99 hardcover), amazon.com
After welcoming his third child Adelaide with wife Alexi in September 2021, Meyers has spent a lot of time reading to his little ones and decided that he "wanted to throw my hat into the ring." The TV host spoke to PEOPLE about his debut children's book, I'm Not Scared, You're Scared, which published on March 15.
The picture book, which is illustrated by Rob Sayegh, is about a bear who learns to face his fears. Meyers wants the book to provide a space for kids to discuss the things that make them scared. "The best way to deal with your fears is to talk them out with someone who loves you," Meyers told PEOPLE. "And parents play that role really well for kids."
Shop It! I'm Not Scared, You're Scared, ($18.99 hardcover), penguinrandomhouse.com
The tennis star has taken her daughter Olympia's favorite doll Qai Qai and created her own book! Williams' first children's book will be called The Adventures of Qai Qai, and will be published by Feiwel and Friends on September 27, 2022.
"Storytime is such an important pillar of our bedtime routine, like so many others around the world," Williams said in a statement about reading with daughter Olympia, whom she shares with husband Alexis Ohanian.
"Qai Qai is a special member of our family and we hope The Adventures of Qai Qai will give others a new way to welcome Qai Qai into their own home."
Shop It! pre-order The Adventures of Qai Qai ($18.99 hardcover), amazon.com
The healthy eating advocate and mother of three will release her first book, Just Try One Bite, on March 22, 2022 with Penguin Random House. Alves McConaughey teamed up with author Adam Mansbach, who wrote the bestselling book Go the F**k to Sleep, for the new story with a funny role reversal in which picky-eater parents are confronted by their children.
"It's all about balance," Alves McConaughey told PEOPLE in November. "If parents take the time to talk to their children about healthy eating then they will grow up to be adults with healthier habits. And having conversations about balance allows for an open dialogue between parents and children."
Shop It! pre-order Just Try One Bite ($17.99 hardcover), target.com
Chenoweth's new title will encourage little ones to "look for ways to be kind and loving every day," according to a press release. What Will I Do with My Love Today?, available for purchase March 8, is a sweet tale about a young girl named Kristi Dawn, who shares her love through acts of generosity around New York City. Kristi tries to make the world a brighter place with her kindness, including her adoption of a lonely dog looking for a home.
"As a child of adoption, I wanted to write a book about what it was like for me to rescue a dog," Chenoweth told PEOPLE in November. "I don't think it's all that different. It's you love who you love, and you pick your family sometimes and sometimes it's nature versus nurture. In my case, I got the right parents and in my dog Thunder's case, she definitely got the right parent."
"So the book, What Will I Do with My Love Today? is about how we can spread that love, not just to our own families, but to other families that may look different than ours," she added.
Shop It! What Will I Do with My Love Today? ($18.99 hardcover, $9.99 Kindle), amazon.com
The actor and New York Times bestseller will release The One and Only Sparkella Makes a Plan on May 3, following the success of his first book, The One and Only Sparkella.
Inspired by his daughter Everly, whom he shares with ex-wife Jenna Dewan, Tatum's second book is about persevering in the face of unexpected challenges.
"The second book's inspiration was a little stop and start," Tatum told PEOPLE via email in September. "I started to go deeper into her school experience. I ultimately decided that I wanted to keep the second book in the world of Sparkella and her dad's experience learning from each other, teaching each other, etc. The first book was very much about how Sparkella and her father handle/navigate things when they're nervous about how things are going to go, or how things are going to be."
Tatum said he wanted the second book to tackle how kids and parents handle unexpected changes and managing expectations.
"I thought it would be really nice to experience something with the dad and Sparkella that was really about when Sparkella has plans, and the plan is now not going at all how she wanted it to go, and it is now failing," he said. "It's about changing your perspective when things have not gone how you have wanted them to, how do you adapt, how do you change? Maybe the way you wanted things to be could be even better?"
Shop It! pre-order The One and Only Sparkella Makes a Plan ($18.99 hardcover), macmillan.com
The couple found a way to celebrate music and their daughters with their new book, There's a Rock Concert in My Bedroom. The book, which will be published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, on March 29, will highlight the power of music and family.
"Music has always been a foundational creative outlet in our family," the couple said in a joint statement they shared exclusively with PEOPLE in September.
"Now our daughters, Alena and Valentina, enrich our lives in ways we could have never anticipated," the stars continued. "The love and care they show each other on a daily basis inspired this story and we are so proud to share how these girls not only uplift us and each other, but are creative, caring rock stars in their own right."
Shop It! pre-order There's a Rock Concert in My Bedroom ($17.99 hardcover), amazon.com
With the release of her debut picture book, Change Sings: A Children's Anthem, Gorman hopes it will empower children to make changes in the world. The story follows a young girl as she leads a cast of characters on a musical journey where they learn that they have the power to make changes in the world, their community and in themselves.
"I wrote this book because I believe every child has the ability to make a difference and that they are the leaders of the future," Gorman said in a press release in September. "I hope readers will enjoy Change Sings and remember that all of us have the power to change the world."
Shop It! Change Sings: A Children's Anthem ($9.31 hardcover), amazon.com
The retired New England Patriot debuted his second children's book, Flying High 2, in 2017. It was illustrated by David Leonard and in collaboration with Edelman's creative partner Assaf Swissa.
The story centers around a "scrappy little squirrel" named Jules, and is reminiscent of the Patriots' come-from-behind Super Bowl victory against the Atlanta Falcons. Meet animal friends like Tom the Goat (ahem) as Jules and his team tell their tale of perseverance.
Shop It! Flying High 2 ($19.99 hardcover), julianedelman.com
"As we were reading to our daughter, we realized books were all about ballet," Winter told PEOPLE in June 2017 of Sebi and the Land of Cha Cha Cha, the authorial debut of the actor and wife Roselyn Sánchez.
"And we felt there was a need in the market – our daughter being half Puerto Rican – to talk about that heritage and the culture that she and my wife know so well," he added of the book, which was inspired by their daughter Sebella "Sebi" Rose.
Shop It! Sebi and the Land of Cha Cha Cha ($15 hardcover, $11 Kindle), amazon.com
"'Don't worry about being perfect or you'll miss out on the fun!' That's the message in the Marge books," actress Isla Fisher told PEOPLE in April 2017 of her children's series.
Added the mom of three and wife to Sacha Baron Cohen, "[Books] help children find quiet time, provoke thoughts and discussions and educate them. They are an integral part of childhood."
Shop It! Marge in Charge ($14 hardcover, $9 Kindle), amazon.com
The late John Lennon's son Julian released his first in a planned book trilogy, titled Touch the Earth, just in time for Earth Day in April in 2017.
Calling "the future of our planet" his muse behind the project, Julian told PEOPLE at the time, "I would hope that these books would serve as a gentle reminder of how beautiful the world we live in is, as well as the problems we face on a daily basis."
He added, "And also I hope it would nurture the relationship between parent and child, and prompt discussion about life and love, too."
Shop It! Touch the Earth ($12 hardcover, $9 Kindle), amazon.com
They say stick to what you know, and the former New York Yankees player did just that with his 2007 book, Out of the Ballpark.
Rodriguez, who donated 15 percent of all sales during an initial N.Y.C. signing of the book, drew from his own experiences growing up with big baseball dreams.
Shop It! Out of the Ballpark ($16 hardcover, $6 paperback, $5 Kindle), amazon.com
This Is Me is only the latest in the lineup of Jamie Lee Curtis-authored children's books. In fact, she's already planning on releasing another one — this time about the world of selfie culture.
"I hope that Me, MySelfie & I will open a dialogue about the impact of smartphone technology on families," the legendary scream queen told PEOPLE in March of her newest tale, out next year.
Shop It! This Is Me: A Story of Who We Are and Where We Came From ($3 hardcover, $9 Kindle), amazon.com
A follow-up to 2015's board book Your Baby's First Word Will Be DADA, Everything Is MAMA by Jimmy Fallon will spotlight another part of parenthood — likely just as hilariously.
"I wrote my first children's book because I wanted my baby's first word to be 'Dada.' It worked. But her second, third and fourth word was 'Mama,' " Fallon said in June 2017.
"She even wanted 'Mama' to read 'Dada.' Everything is 'Mama,' " added The Tonight Show host. "If you have a 3-year-old, they'll love the pictures. And if you have a 1-year-old, they'll love how it tastes."
Shop It! Everything Is MAMA (preorder; $10), amazon.com
Another second-time children's book author on the list? Kelly Clarkson, who added an installment inspired by daughter River Rose. (The first, titled River Rose and the Magical Lullaby, is available now.)
In River Rose and the Magical Christmas, River tries to stay up all night to deliver her letter to Santa personally — and gets more than she ever dreamed of when she and her pup pay a visit to the North Pole instead!
Shop It! River Rose and the Magical Christmas ($16), amazon.com
Lopez is more than a chiseled television star. He's also a dad of two and a children's book author!
The actor (who shares three children with wife Courtney) has not one but two books to his name: Mario and Baby Gia and Mud Tacos — the latter of which he co-authored alongside sister Marissa!
Shop It! Mario and Baby Gia ($8), amazon.com
Stories for Your Little Ones! Here Are 17 Celebrities Who Have Written Children's Books
They sing, act, play sports — and in their free time, these stars have also added "children's book author" to their already-impressive resumes
Solve the daily Crossword
