From award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson, You can be a good friend (no matter what!) shows children what great things can happen when we treat others and ourselves with empathy, patience, and love. In this debut picture book by Taraji P. Henson, quirky, stylish, and somewhat spontaneous little TJ is ready for her first day of school. But when she gets there, TJ finds that everything she does is a little different from everyone else and is filled with fear and doubt until she looks into her own creativity and personality and figures out how to help herself make new friends! Available everywhere now!
There are many celebrity children’s books in the world, written to varying levels. After all, not all authors are the same, but publishers are unlikely to turn down up-and-coming picture book authors who already have fans and influence. So how do you find out which celebrity picture books are worth reading? I’ve done the work and read many of them, and now I’m going to tell you my picks.
My selections have nothing to do with the characters personally – some famous people whose acting work I love have written children’s books that I’ve read but won’t read again. While some of the books on this list are by celebs I’m generally indifferent to, I love their books because they’re by storytellers with real charm, insight and panache.
These eight books are my favorites because they combine well-written stories with an engaging tone and purpose, and they also feature beautiful illustrations that highlight and complement the words.
The Enchanted Symphony by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton and Elly MacKay
This book sparked a real love fest in the children’s library staff chat at work, we all loved it. Piccolino’s father is maestro at their village opera house. Their house is busy and popular; that is, until a mysterious fog envelops everything and sends everyone home for an extended stay. When Piccolino and his father find a way to bring joy back to the village, the fog disappears. Andrews was inspired by how art and nature have brought joy to people during the pandemic, and her story reflects that movingly.
The wimp duckling by Harvey Fierstein and Henry Cole
I’m a Fierstein fan and this 2002 picture book of his does not disappoint. Elmer is a happy duckling who loves playing make-believe games and decorating cookies. Unfortunately, he can’t find any other ducklings who enjoy the same games, so his disappointed father tries to train Elmer in sports. With wit and humor, Fierstein’s duckling hero finds the strength to confidently follow his heart and proudly be the duck he is.
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o and Vashti Harrison
Nyong’o’s picture book is about a little girl named Sulwe who struggles because her skin is darker than her parents’ and sister’s. She is aware that this makes her less attractive to her friends at school. The illustrations beautifully capture Nyong’o’s text, which portrays an important experience with nuance and sensitivity.
Please, baby, please by Spike Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee and Kadir Nelson
The simple, repetitive text, accompanied by Nelson’s beautiful illustrations, makes the book a hit. Exhausted but loving parents implore their little one to eat her peas, share her toys and go back to bed. And as a mother of a newborn, I found the parents’ negotiations very relatable. All of this made for a fun, baby-friendly picture book.
Bompa’s insect expedition by David Suzuki, Tanya Lloyd Kyi and Qin Leng
Suzuki, a famous scientist and environmentalist, co-authored a nonfiction picture book about two children and their grandfather exploring nature together. Bompa and twins Nakina and Kaoru wander around the backyard, examining insects. The twins ask questions, which Bompa answers with easy-to-understand information. Leng’s art is charming and adds a certain silliness to the fact-based text, making the book fun to read and a great learning tool.
The book without pictures by BJ Novak
This book is about bananas, a favorite among children, and is a guaranteed hit when read aloud. True to its title, there are no pictures, but large font, nonsense words, and interactive text make this book the equivalent of catnip for kids.
Remember to dream, Ebere by Cynthia Erivo and Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Every night before bed, Ebere’s mother reminds her to dream. Ebere’s imagination is limitless, and with each subsequent sleep she fills in the details of her nightly dreams. Erivo’s text is simple and calm, with gentle repetition, and the illustrations are playful and endearing.
The further story of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson and Eleanor Taylor
Did you know that Emma Thompson wrote several Peter Rabbit books? This one was the first, written to mark Peter’s 110th birthday, and Thompson captures the mischievous spirit of the originals perfectly. Fun fact: I was working in the book department at Selfridges when this book was published, and we invited Thompson over for a meet and greet – she was wearing adorably quirky mismatched vegetarian earrings.
Here they are: eight celebrity picture books worth reading. There are a lot of celebrities on the children’s book scene and it can be overwhelming to choose one, but I promise these will delight you and your favorite children when you sit down to read aloud.
