Children’s literature has been a mega market for a long time. Books for children sell like hotcakes at stores and online marketplaces. It is also a segment which sees celebrities picking the pen to create some of the most beautiful stories that are both inspiring and heart-touching. In fact, several celebrities made their literary debut with books for children.
When celebrities pen books for children, not only do they bring fresh perspectives but also lend a unique thought that is often based on their own experiences. Take for instance celebrities such as Channing Tatum, Dolly Parton, LeBron James, Julie Andrews and Meghan Markle. Each of them is a renowned name in their respective worlds and each wrote unique stories for kids.
Tatum surprised readers with The One and Only Sparkella, a heartwarming story about a father-daughter duo. The book is based on Tatum’s own experience raising a daughter.
Julie Andrews, loved by one and all as the iconic Mary Poppins, has authored a series of books for children, including The Very Fairy Princess and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles. Her works have a quintessentially British charm and fairytale settings that resonate with the young hearts whom the book targets.
Similarly, fatherhood is the focus of Meghan Markle’s The Bench, while love for animals is the theme of Alia Bhatt’s debut book Ed Finds a Home.
These are just a few examples. Children’s books by celebrities offer a range of themes, from self-esteem to family relationships, all wrapped in familiar faces.
Of course, such books also enjoy the novelty of being authored by fan-favourite celebrities. However, only those books which are able to connect with young readers with a genuine quality in the story, backed by simple writing and beautiful illustrations, eventually become timeless.
Here are some of the best children’s books written by celebrities
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- The Adventures of Ed-a-Mamma: Ed Finds a Home by Alia Bhatt
- I'm Not Scared, You're Scared by Seth Meyers
- The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
- The Bench by Meghan Markle
- Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
- I Promise by LeBron James
- Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis
- The One and Only Sparkella by Channing Tatum
- Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars by Ricky Martin
Ed Finds a Home is the debut book by Indian actor Alia Bhatt, who is known for playing stellar non-conventional roles in some of Bollywood’s most critically acclaimed movies. The book’s protagonists are a little girl named Alia and a dog named Ed. While Ed has no home, he is full of hope. Alia, on the other hand, has a heart full of love and a secret superpower. When they meet, Ed finds a safe place with Alia and, in turn, inspires her to be the best version of herself. According to Bhatt, the book is the first in what she calls the “universe of Ed-a-mamma.”
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Seth Myers makes his debut with the picture book, illustrated by Rob Sayegh, which is both hilarious and heart-touching. Its story revolves around two friends — a bear who is easily scared and a rabbit who is brave. The rabbit wants the bear to become courageous, and so they embark upon an adventure to help the bear face his fears. However, the adventure doesn’t turn out the way they thought and the two friends learn valuable lessons of life.
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Julie Andrews is, without a doubt, one of the greatest acting icons in cinema history. This book was her second children’s novel. A story of magic and adventure, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles follows three siblings — Ben, Tom, and Linda Potter. One day, they meet Professor Savant, who tells them of a secret land known as Whangdoodleland which is ruled by the fantastical creature named Whangdoodle. Eager to meet Whangdoodle, the Potter children go on an adventure with the professor. But they must outsmart and outmanoeuvre the traps set up by Whangdoodle’s wily prime minister “oily” Prock, who doesn’t want his king disturbed.
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A No.1 New York Times Bestseller, The Bench is the first children’s book written by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The inspiration for the book came from the relationship of Meghan’s husband, Prince Harry, with their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. In fact, the idea of the book emerged from a poem that Meghan wrote for Harry as part of his first Father’s Day celebration with Archie.
Publisher Puffin Books described the picture book as one that is “about the special bond between father and son— as told through a mother’s eyes.” The artwork in the book is by Christian Robinson.
Read more: Books written by the British royals
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Dolly Parton is a country music legend with 10 Grammy awards to her name. Her rural upbringing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee inspired her picture book, Coat of Many Colors — the title of which comes from her classic song of the same name. The book is about a young girl who lives in Tennessee. As the winter approaches, she is in need of a warm coat. Her family is poor and cannot afford to buy a coat. So, her mother sews the girl a coat using rags. Though the girl is happy, her classmates at school mock her over the patchwork coat. Eventually, the girl and her classmates realise why the coat made of rags is far better than any other in the world.
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The title of the picture book by National Basketball Association (NBA) legend LeBron James is inspired by his foundation’s ‘I Promise’ programme. Among the many honours it received was the No.1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller list and recognition as Amazon Best Book of the Year. The picture book, which has been illustrated by Geisel Honor-winning artist Nina Mata, is designed to inspire little children to follow their dreams. It tells them why it is important to be in school, be respectful and never give up.
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Children can be moody; their emotions change rapidly. This is where Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis’ book is significant, as it is aimed at helping kids understand the many emotions – from happiness to anger – they experience every day. The book contains playful rhymes, examples and illustrations – drawn by Laura Cornell – to easily explain each emotion, why they occur and how to deal with them. The book also has a ‘mood wheel’ — a cut wheel with mix-and-match facial expressions for kids to playfully show how they feel.
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Hollywood star Channing Tatum is loved by many. His No.1 New York Times Bestseller perhaps even more. The One and Only Sparkella is the first picture book by the actor which revolves around a girl named Ella, who loves everything that sparkles. Everything from her pencil box to her ribbon is shimmery and glittery. When she is humiliated by her classmates for her sparkly choices, she decides to let go of her fascination to please them. But Ella’s dad helps motivate her to be proud of her choices and not bother about what others think.
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Music icon Ricky Martin’s Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars is one of the best books for children. Given that it is by Martin, the story expectedly draws on the beautiful culture of Latin America and the general love of performing arts. It is about a young boy named Santiago who dreams of acting on the stage. But he starts doubting himself when he is not selected for a dream lead role in the school play. At this point, his father steps in and starts encouraging Santiago to rebuild his confidence. Inspired, Santiago discovers that all that is needed are passion and dedication.
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Manas Sen Gupta writes at the intersection of tech, entertainment and history. His works have appeared in publications such as The Statesman, Myanmar Matters, Hindustan Times and News18/ETV. In his spare time, Manas loves studying interactive charts and topographic maps. When not doing either, he prefers reading detective fiction. Spring is his favourite season and he can happily eat a bowl of noodles any time of the day.
