From dancing dolls to loving grandmas and kids who sparkle, there’s a swell of children’s books by celebrities on our shelves – and within the covers are beautiful tales of friendship, perseverance and self-belief.
Check out these vibrant stories filled with joy for kids and their grown-ups alike:
1. There’s a Rock Concert in My Bedroom by Kevin Jonas & Danielle Jonas
We can’t imagine bedtime going any other way in a Jonas household than with some rocking lullabies, or in this case, a book all about a love for music.
In There’s a Rock Concert in My Bedroom, international superstar Kevin Jonas and his wife, jewellery designer Danielle Jonas, introduce us to a little girl named Emma who loves to BOOM BOOM BOOM and STOMP STOMP STOMP. In fact, she loves making music so much that she signs herself up for the school talent show, but will a case of nerves get in the way of Emma rocking out?
“It’s a story about family,” Kevin shares on his Instagram page. “Doing what you love, facing your fears and learning to rock.”
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2. Nana Loves You More by Jimmy Fallon
Following on from his previous New York Times’ bestsellers, there’s another great children’s book with Jimmy Fallon’s name on it and this time it’s all about a nana’s love for her grandkids!
“Whether you call her Grandma, Gram, Gammy, Gigi, Memmaw, Abuela or Bubbie – there’s nothing like a NANA’s love,” the talk-show host says in a statement.
Nana Loves You More will have you wondering how far a grandmother’s love for her grandkids goes…perhaps all the way to the moon and back?
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3. The One and Only Sparkella Makes a Plan by Channing Tatum
This charming book is the second in Channing Tatum’s Sparkella series and it offers a beautiful message about creative thinking and patience.
When Sparkella is getting ready to have a friend over, she has everything sorted from her outfit to games, but the one thing she really wants – a castle fit for two royal highnesses – won’t come together and isn’t very “glittertastic.” In steps her dad, and together they come up with a new plan.
“I guess the little girl in me just really likes writing #Sparkella books for my inspiration Evie,” Channing writes on Instagram, referring to his daughter with ex, Jenna Dewan.
FYI, Channing also recently announced the Sparkella series has been such a hit, it will be made into a live-action movie!
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4. The Adventures of Qai Qai by Serena Williams
Serena Williams is set to gather many more fans for Qai Qai, her daughter Olympia’s favourite doll, with the release of The Adventures of Qai Qai, released September 2022.
To recap, Qai Qai was created by Williams and Invisible Universe to offer children greater diversity in the world of dolls. Her popularity has exploded since 2018 and she even has a dedicated Qai Qai TikTok account with 3.7 million followers!
The book is about a little girl’s nerves before a dance recital and the power of believing in yourself.
“Since realising @RealQaiQai’s 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. We are so proud to announce Qai Qai’s first book … a story about the power of friendship and imagination,” Serena said in an announcement on her official Instagram account.
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5. Busy Betty by Reese Witherspoon
Released October 2022, Busy Betty has all the wit and humour we’ve come to know and love about its author, Reese Witherspoon.
The story follows a young girl names Betty who is trying to give her dog Frank a bath but it turns out being much more difficult than she thought! So her friend Mae pitches in and according to the book’s description, “Betty learns she can accomplish anything with perseverance, teamwork and one great idea.”
“I’m so excited to share Busy Betty with the world. Since the moment I had a daughter of my own, I have been searching for characters whose self-expression is front and centre and holistically portrays the experience of being a young girl,” Reese says in a statement.
Sharing a first-look at the book’s adorable cover on Instagram, Reese adds that the whole thing was inspired by her own “goofy, mischievous, creative and very BUSY” childhood – and yes, Betty does look a whole lot like a young Reese Witherspoon!
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6. Just Try One Bite by Camila Alves McConaughey
This one is a lot of fun for both kids and their grown ups! Just Try One Bite is the first children’s book from model and entrepreneur Camila Alves McConaughey (yes, the love of actor Matthew McConaughey’s life).
It’s about three kids determined to make their picky parents try some wholesome foods like broccoli and kale – a rather hilarious role reversal story where we see the adults gagging and refusing to give vegetables a chance!
It’s not only full of laughs, but will no doubt open a beautiful discussion about nutritious meals with the whole family.
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7. Bella The Brave by Rebel Wilson
It can be hard to find your voice and own who you are – and this is a story that shows us that we can all find it within ourselves to step out of our comfort zones!
Written by actor, producer and comedian Rebel Wilson – who, believe it or not, says she was a very shy child – is about a little girl named Bella who is also shy. She wishes she could be more confident like her sister Stella and with a little help, she eventually she gets there.
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8. Tomatoes For Neela by Padma Lakshmi
Tomatoes For Neela comes from Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi and is a delightful tale about treasuring inter-generational relationships – and recipes – with our loved ones.
When young Neela misses her grandmother (or Patti) in India, Neela’s mum decides to take her daughter to buy some juicy, fresh tomatoes so they can recreate some of Patti’s most loved recipes and feel closer to her.
There are even some great recipes at the end of the book so you can have a little cooking session with your kids too!
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(Feature Image Credit: Courtesy Feiwel & Friends; Penguin Random House)
*This post was originally published June 19, 2023 and has been updated with more recommendations.