Celebrity Parents Who Have Written Children’s Books (2024)

Gabrielle Union and more celebrity parents have released picture books for children.

The Bring It On actress released her debut book, Welcome to the Party, in May 2020 to celebrate non-traditional families.

Union, who shares daughter Kaavia with 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 and the basketball star, who is also dad to three older children from past relationships, used a gestational carrier after dealing with fertility struggles. Welcome to the Party was Union’s way to teach children born in different circ*mstances that they are "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.

Gabrielle Union and more celebrity parents have released picture books for children.

The Bring It On actress released her debut book, Welcome to the Party, in May 2020 to celebrate non-traditional families.

Union, who shares daughter Kaavia with 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 and the basketball star, who is also dad to three older children from past relationships, used a gestational carrier after dealing with fertility struggles. Welcome to the Party was Union’s way to teach children born in different circ*mstances that they are "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.

Melvin’s I’m Proud of You hit shelves in May 2024. “I have many passions in life, but what I’m most passionate about is being a father,” he wrote via Instagram in November 2023. “I’m Proud of You is a celebration of the small things in life, and a book for anybody who has experienced the joys and wonders of parenthood and wants their children to know how amazing and inspiring they are.

Jarrett and Poppy Harlow released The Color of Love in May 2024, which featured illustrated versions of each of their children.

"There are so many books out there right now that are celebrating diversity and inclusion," Jarrett said on Today in May 2024. "But I think part of what we wanted to do was to have the children narrate what they were seeing, and narrate the reasons why that you can find the color of love in all different ways instead of having adults talk to them about it."

The musician’s debut book, Addie Ant Goes on an Adventure, will be released in April 2024.

“[This book] is the delightful story of one little ant’s journey for independence,” Morris, who shares son Hayes with husband Ryan Hurd, wrote via Instagram in October 2023. “Addie Ant sets out on her first solo garden adventure but gets lost along the way, finding help from her trusted garden pals, Lewis Ladybug, Beatrix Butterfly, and Cleo Cricket. This book touches on themes of friendship and learning when to ask for help for little readers.”

McConaughey — who previously penned his Greenlights memoir in 2020 — released his first children’s book, Just Because, in September 2023.

“[My] daughter loves the pictures. She's very visual. We've talked about a lot of these couplets in different ways for, I guess I didn't even know it, but for years,” he told NPR of his kids with wife Camila Alves. “They told me I've been kind of trying to [instill] some of these things into them. One of the couplets is, 'Just because you threw shade doesn't mean that I'm out of the sun. And just because they shut me down doesn't mean I have not won.' You know, this throwing shade, or trolling, or negative response or comment on something you thought was cool, or true, doesn't mean that it steals your joy.”

Odenkirk’s book of poems, titled Zilot & Other Important Rhymes, came out in October 2023. The project was illustrated by his daughter, Erin Odenkirk.

“I’m not trying to be overly complex, but not being afraid to use language that was a little more complex and refined than most people talk to their kids with,” the actor told ABC News upon the book’s release. “I want kids to be comfortable around words and feel that they can use them and maybe even make a mistake, use them wrong and learn and then not feel embarrassed.”

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."

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.”

The entrepreneur, who shares three kids withMatthew McConaughey, is releasingJust Try One Bitein March 2022 "for parents of picky eaters."

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.

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."

“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.”

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.”

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."

"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!"

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

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.

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.

"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."

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

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.

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.”

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.”

"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.

"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!"

“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.”

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."

"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.

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

"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,” theGood Placealum said in a June 2020 Twitter video ofThe 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.”

"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."

This Is Baby, released in 2010, shows children their body parts with the help of rhyming words.The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonhost has also writtenEverything Is MamaandYour First Word Will Be Dada.

TheQueer Eyestar wroteI Am Perfectly Designedwith 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 toldUs Weeklyin 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."

"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 2013NPRinterviewofSantiago 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."

You Are My Happywas inspired by theTodayshow host’s bedtime routine with her youngest daughter, Hope, Kotb explained in 2019. The release came one year after she wroteI’ve Loved You Since Forever.

TheAmerican Idolwinner wroteRiver Rose and the Magical LullabyandRiver Rose and the Magical Christmasin honor of her andBrandon Blackstock's eldest daughter.

Me, Myselfie and Iis 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.

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 2017AOL Buildinterview.

TheAce Ventura: Pet Detectivestar dedicatedHow Roland Rollsto his grandson, Jackson, in February 2013.

"When you have a dog, the dog is your baby. Then you have a baby, and your dog is a dog,” theReal Housewives of New York Citystar 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]."

The actress’ Freckleface Strawberrybook 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 toEntertainment Weekly in December 2013.