Celebrities. We see them on the screen, on the stage, and on our favorite sports teams. Thanks to Wikipedia, we think we know everything about them. Somehow, they still manage to surprise us. A remarkable number of celebrities choose to use their platforms to create sparkling and educational stories for children.
Among the group of celebrity children’s book authors, we compiled a list of the six whose contributions to literature surprised us the most.
Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis is known for her powerful, measured performances in films like Knives Out and Everything Everywhere All At Once. Aside from her captivating acting work and comedic panache (Freaky Friday, of course, comes to mind), Curtis is also a New York Times Best Selling Author. With over a dozen children’s books under her belt, it was hard to choose just one, but we believe that Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born is extra special.
Based on Curtis’ own experience with her adopted daughters, this book follows a young girl who longs to hear again and again about the night she was born and the first time her adoptive parents held her. It’s rare to see a children’s book celebrate the precious and extraordinary bond shared within adopted families. In following the young girl’s story, Curtis encourages us all to cherish our families, no matter what form they take.
C is for Country by Lil Nas X
Music sensation Lil Nas X may seem like a surprising choice for a children’s book author. Yet fans of his hit Old Town Road know this rapper is no stranger to genre-blending fun. C is for Country puts an exciting twist on classic ABC books, with entries like S is for Swagger, and F is for Fringe. Joined by Panini the Pony and a love for rhythm, Lil Nas X journeys through a farmhouse setting to help children learn the alphabet, one letter at a time.
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
Acclaimed for her visceral, moving work in films like Us and A Quiet Place: Day One, Academy Award Winner Lupita Nyong’o is also known for her incredible activism. Sulwe is a beautiful example of how art can foster change. Drawing from Nyong’o’s life experience, the titular Sulwe is a Kenyan girl with the darkest skin color in her community. All she wishes is to be lighter like everyone else. A transformative journey into the night sky teaches Sulwe (and us) that beauty is everywhere.
This book is a poignant exploration of colorism and self-esteem. In a social-media-filled world driven by comparison, it’s important to remind ourselves that we all have worth, just as we are.
I Don’t Want to Read This Book by Max Greenfield
Admit it: you read that title in the voice of New Girl’s Schmidt. Sitcom favorite Max Greenfield embraces his comedic side in I Don’t Want to Read This Book. This hilarious children’s book is perfect for reluctant readers. Peppered with humor and zany images, Greenfield tackles Big Bad Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs. By the end of this story, every child will realize that maybe they did want to read this book after all.
Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries by Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes may have retired from acting, but her entertainment career is far from over. She proved this in her debut children’s book, Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries. This story follows Desi, a young girl who can never seem to sleep because there are too many scary thoughts keeping her awake. Luckily, she has Mami to help her take control of her mind.
Mendes was inspired to write this book from her experience as a mother. Her story teaches us that we can conquer anything with the right support.
For the Spanish version, Desi, Mami Y Las Infinitas Preocupaciones, click here.
I Promise by Lebron James
NBA champion Lebron James’ dedication doesn’t end on the basketball court. His foundation’s illustrious I PROMISE program works to uplift children and families from underserved communities. Named for this program, James’ book I Promise carries this story over to the page. This book teaches children that success is possible for all of us, so long as we promise to give our best every single day.
From soft emotional narratives to peppy comic stories, these celebrity authors assembled a diverse catalog of children’s books. Clearly, their talents exceed those that first made them famous. They remind us that reading can be fun, informative, and touching all at once.
Curious how many other celebrities wrote children’s books? Click here.
Find more youth titles on our Mini Bookworms bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
