Celebrity Parents Who Have Written Children’s Books Over the Years

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Celebrity Parents Who Have Written Children’s Books Over the Years

Celebrity parents in print! Joanna Gaines, Gabrielle Union and more stars have released picture books for children. The Fixer Upper star published her first kids’ book, We Are the Gardeners, in March 2019, which she cowrote with her and husband Chip Gaines’ five kids — Drake, Duke, Ella, Emmie and Crew. "We wrote this children’s book together to tell the story of our journey in the garden — a story of trying and failing and trying again and never giving up,” the Kansas native captioned her January 2019 Instagram announcement. "We hope it inspires you and your little ones to get outside, get your hands dirty and grow something great!” The following year, the reality star shared the title of her next book, The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be. "I wanted my new children’s book to say the very thing that I needed to hear as a kid, and that I want my kids to hear and know deep in their bones, and that I hope your kids will hear and believe, too,” she explained via Instagram in July 2020. "The world needs who you were made to be — with all of the kindness and strength and unique qualities that make you who you are."⠀ [jwplayer Fm4XLlfB-zhNYySv2] As for Union, the actress’ May 2020 book, Welcome to the Party, celebrates non-traditional families. The L.A.’s Finest star, who shares daughter Kaavia with her husband, Dwyane Wade, said during a Today show appearance at the time: "I know I'm definitely not alone in that our [surrogacy] journey was just paved with a lot of heartbreak and pain. By the time she arrived, there was so much anticipation in our family, our larger family, and our community. We just wanted to have a celebration.” Union wants children born in different circumstances to feel "loved and welcomed and wanted and celebrated.” Keep scrolling to see more books for kids written by famous parents, from Kristen Bell’s The World Needs More Purple People to Karamo Brown’s I Am Perfectly Designed. [podcast_block]

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Celebrity Parents Who Have Written Children’s Books Over the Years

Celebrity parents in print! Joanna Gaines, Gabrielle Union and more stars have released picture books for children. The Fixer Upper star published her first kids’ book, We Are the Gardeners, in March 2019, which she cowrote with her and husband Chip Gaines’ five kids — Drake, Duke, Ella, Emmie and Crew. "We wrote this children’s book together to tell the story of our journey in the garden — a story of trying and failing and trying again and never giving up,” the Kansas native captioned her January 2019 Instagram announcement. "We hope it inspires you and your little ones to get outside, get your hands dirty and grow something great!” The following year, the reality star shared the title of her next book, The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be. "I wanted my new children’s book to say the very thing that I needed to hear as a kid, and that I want my kids to hear and know deep in their bones, and that I hope your kids will hear and believe, too,” she explained via Instagram in July 2020. "The world needs who you were made to be — with all of the kindness and strength and unique qualities that make you who you are."⠀ [jwplayer Fm4XLlfB-zhNYySv2] As for Union, the actress’ May 2020 book, Welcome to the Party, celebrates non-traditional families. The L.A.’s Finest star, who shares daughter Kaavia with her husband, Dwyane Wade, said during a Today show appearance at the time: "I know I'm definitely not alone in that our [surrogacy] journey was just paved with a lot of heartbreak and pain. By the time she arrived, there was so much anticipation in our family, our larger family, and our community. We just wanted to have a celebration.” Union wants children born in different circumstances to feel "loved and welcomed and wanted and celebrated.” Keep scrolling to see more books for kids written by famous parents, from Kristen Bell’s The World Needs More Purple People to Karamo Brown’s I Am Perfectly Designed. [podcast_block]

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock

Jennifer Lopez

Jimmy Fallon teased his and the Grammy winner’s upcoming children’s book in March 2022, telling Entertainment Tonight that it will “help teach babies Spanish.” The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon host gushed, “It’s really cute. The artist is great. I think people are going to really dig it. It’s a lot of fun."

Credit: David Fisher/Shutterstock for SAG Awards; Courtesy of Penguin Kids (Inset)

Reese Witherspoon

The Hello Sunshine founder announced the release of her debut picture book, Busy Betty, in March 2022.

“Calling all creative, spirited kids and the adults who raise them! ✨ During the past year, I've been thinking about the kind of kid I was: goofy, mischievous, creative and very BUSY,” Witherspoon wrote via Instagram. “Oh boy, I made a lot of messes and mistakes and through many big fails, I learned who I was and what made me UNIQUE.  That's how this book was born. Busy Betty is a character who is shaped by Young Reese: a girl with big glasses, her big brothers’ hand-me-downs, who loved Dolly Parton and Horror movies.. equally! Busy Betty has a head full of ideas and energy for days. I hope you love reading about my girl, Betty as much as I loved creating her and all her friends.”

Credit: Courtesy of Dial Books for Young Readers

Camila Alves

The entrepreneur, who shares three kids with Matthew McConaughey, is releasing Just Try One Bite in March 2022 "for parents of picky eaters."

Credit: Courtesy of Ciara/Instagram

Ciara and Russell Wilson

The couple published Why Not You? in February 2022. “The reality for us is that we want to be able to create a lasting legacy that is about inspiration, about dreaming and having that kind of mentality, and this book is just the beginning of it,” the athlete told Entertainment Tonight of the book at the time.

Credit: Courtesy of Macmillan

Mariah Carey

In January 2022, the "Fantasy" songstress announced the release of her first children's book — and naturally, it's about her favorite holiday. "The Christmas Princess is a fairytale for holiday lovers of all ages!" the Grammy winner wrote via Instagram at the time. "Little Mariah represents my inner child believing in her own vision, she represents all children, especially those who feel like outsiders or 'others', striving to believe in themselves. It was empowering to transform my childhood turmoil into a modern classic fairytale full of wonder and boundless hope."

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Serena Williams

“Since realizing @RealQaiQai’s [daughter Olympia’s doll] ability to spread joy to our own family and also millions of others around the world, we’ve wanted to tell her story in every way possible,” the tennis player announced in December 2021 via Instagram. “We are so proud to announce Qai Qai’s first book, The Adventures of Qai Qai, a story about the power of friendship and imagination.”

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Jax Taylor

The Vanderpump Rules alum announced in November 2021 that he penned a children’s book so his son, Cruz, could get to know Taylor’s late father, Ronald. “I lost my father four years ago and I was extremely close to my dad. I wanted to do something where I could incorporate my dad into my son’s life,” Taylor told Access Hollywood at the time. “So, I did an homage, kind of like a love letter about my father. It should be coming out the summer of 2022. It’s kind of a love letter to my dad. Just about what an amazing man he was and how I plan to raise my son like he raised me.”

Credit: Courtesy of Jinger Vuolo/Instagram

Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo

The 19 Kids and Counting alum and her husband announced their new picture book, You Can Shine So Bright, illustrated by Naomi C. Robinson, in November 2021.

"So, we wrote a children’s book! Every night as we put our girls to bed, we open a book and read a story — it’s become one of our favorite moments of the day!" Jinger revealed via Instagram. "Felicity loves hearing about all the different characters and Evy Jo loves the pictures. Having the opportunity to write this book for our girls, and for children all over the world, has been so fun and a dream come true."

Credit: Courtesy of Danielle Jonas/Instagram

Kevin Jonas and Danielle Jonas

"We’re so excited to announce our first picture book THERE’S A ROCK CONCERT IN MY BEDROOM – hitting shelves next March 2022!” the jewelry designer wrote via Instagram in September 2021. "Filled with fun illustrations from Courtney Dawson, the book is all about music, family and facing your fears. We can’t wait for you and your kids to read it!"

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Jessica Alba

In June 2021, the Honest Company creator announced her upcoming children’s book, A Bear to Share, with Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein.

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Meghan Markle

News broke in May 2021 that the Suits alum is set to publish her first children's book, The Bench. The former actress will narrate the audio version, out in June 2021.

Credit: Courtesy Jonathan Van Ness/Instagram

Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness read his book Peanut Goes For The Gold to his cats, who were lounging on Catit's Vesper High Base scratching post, while promoting his partnership with No Kid Hungry.

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Max Greenfield

"I think we all know or can remember the child who always had a book in their hand," the New Girl alum said of I Don’t Want to Read This Book in February 2021. "The one who sat quietly in the corner. The one that just couldn’t stop reading. This book is a love letter to all the other kids."

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Mina Starsiak Hawk

The Good Bones star announced in January 2021 that her first kids’ book, Built Together, was set to release the following month.

Credit: Courtesy Gabrielle Union/Instagram

Dwyane Wade

The professional basketball player teamed up with his wife, Gabrielle Union, in January 2021 for his first kids’ book, Shady Baby, inspired by their daughter, Kaavia.

Credit: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock; Penguin Random House

Kevin Hart

Time to preorder! The comedian announced his new book via Instagram in January 2021. “Breaking news....I’m dropping my 1st children’s book on June 1st and I couldn’t be more excited about it. I wanted to give kids something that could motivate & inspire them to dream big,” he wrote. “The word NO can be discouraging to us all....which is why believing in yourself is so important. Nobody knows what you are capable of more than you. Message to the kids of this generation....THE FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS. Go be great and go make some new history.”

Credit: Courtesy of Marcus Smith II/Instagram

Marcus Smith II

The former NFL player wrote his debut children’s book, Bathtime With Rai, after welcoming his daughter Sarai. “The book was written for the modern Black dads of the world and for the little brown girls of the world,” he told Access in November 2020. “I just want to put on for the Black fathers to let us know that we are here and for the little young girls [to know] that there are fathers out there that are trying to become the best father they could possibly be.”

Credit: Courtesy of Hilary Duff/Instagram

Hilary Duff

"I wrote this story to encourage both mothers and daughters to reach higher, dream bigger and approach the world with their hearts wide open,” the Younger star said of My Little Brave Girl in September 2020.

Credit: Courtesy of Natalie Portman/Instagram

Natalie Portman

"Can’t wait to share my children’s book with you all, Natalie Portman’s Fables — retellings of The Tortoise and the Hare, The Three Little Pigs, and Country Mouse and City Mouse,” the Black Swan star captioned a September 2020 Instagram announcement. "I love these classic stories and wanted to update them to be more reflective of the world in which we live. It’s been so fun reading the book to my kids and I look forward to hearing your experiences with your own kids!"

Credit: Courtesy Channing Tatum/Instagram

Channing Tatum

“Guys, I don’t know about you but things got a little weird for me in quarantine,” the Magic Mike star captioned an August 2020 photo of himself holding his Sparkella book amid the coronavirus pandemic. “I ended up accidentally locking myself in my 7-year-old daughter [Everly’s] room. And I ended up finding my inner child. So this is what I created for my little girl. From what is, I guess, the little girl in me. Thanks for reading.”

Credit: Courtesy of Savannah James/Instagram

LeBron James

The professional basketball player hopes that his picture book, I Promise, helps kids "realize they can do anything,” he told Parents in August 2020. "I want them to be confident in themselves and what they're capable of."

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Savannah Guthrie

"You can be a girly girl and you can still be a strong woman," the Today show cohost said of Princesses Wear Pants in 2017. Guthrie published Princesses Save the World the following year.

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Joanna Gaines

Julianna Swaney illustrated the Baylor University graduate's 2020 release.

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Kristen Bell

"Similarities exist. And now that we know that we’re a safe group, we can hear each other out on our differences. That’s not explained to kids,” the Good Place alum said in a June 2020 Twitter video of The World Needs More Purple People. “So we thought, 'What if we create a road map of a purple person who looks for similarities before differences?’ And hopefully that will allow kids to have a little more of a social identity and see similarities, and through that have their mind opened by some people they thought were different.”

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Gabrielle Union

"My inspiration for writing this book is to acknowledge all the routes to motherhood and the creating and expanding of families,” the Nebraska native wrote via Instagram in May 2020. "Reminding everyone that no matter how you family, we welcome you, love you and celebrate you."

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Jimmy Fallon

This Is Baby, released in 2010, shows children their body parts with the help of rhyming words. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon host has also written Everything Is Mama and Your First Word Will Be Dada.

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Karamo Brown

The Queer Eye star wrote I Am Perfectly Designed with his son, Jason. "I really let Jason take the lead and I was happy to follow his artistic style and messages,” the reality star exclusively told Us Weekly in October 2019. "I came in as the cowriter and editor and made sure we met all our deadlines. Sometimes I sounded more parent than coauthor, I’m sure he would say."

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Ricky Martin

"I started remembering what it was like when I started in the music business, and that's what the story is about,” the Grammy winner said during a November 2013 NPR interview of Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among the Stars. "It’s about a child who auditions for his play at school and he was rejected. And the relationship that he has with his father is exactly like the relationship I had with my father."

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Hoda Kotb

You Are My Happy was inspired by the Today show host’s bedtime routine with her youngest daughter, Hope, Kotb explained in 2019. The release came one year after she wrote I’ve Loved You Since Forever.

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Kelly Clarkson

The American Idol winner wrote River Rose and the Magical Lullaby and River Rose and the Magical Christmas in honor of her and Brandon Blackstock's eldest daughter.

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Jamie Lynn Curtis

Me, Myselfie and I is the actress’ way of “open[ing] a dialogue about the impact of smartphone technology on families, and provid[ing] a fun and whimsical take on our obsession with self-documentation, while also showing the value in looking beyond the screen and living in the moment,” Curtis said in a March 2017 statement.

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Roseyln Sanchez and Eric Winter

The couple’s bilingual book, Sebi and the Land of Cha Cha Cha, features their daughter as the protagonist. "There are wonderful books about ballet and tap but there was nothing that would teach kids Latin rhythms,” Sanchez said in a September 2017 AOL Build interview.

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Jim Carrey

The Ace Ventura: Pet Detective star dedicated How Roland Rolls to his grandson, Jackson, in February 2013.

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Bethenny Frankel

"When you have a dog, the dog is your baby. Then you have a baby, and your dog is a dog,” the Real Housewives of New York City star explained of her 2014 book, Cookie Meets Peanut. "Cookie was my life and of course, still is, but she got shafted for a minute [when Bryn was born]."

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Julianne Moore

The actress’ Freckleface Strawberry book series is inspired by her childhood. "They’re all things that happened to me, but it’s like, you know, you can fictionalize some things,” Moore explained to Entertainment Weekly in December 2013.