In their downtime, the following stars have stepped away from the limelight to pen books for their smallest of fans.
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Following in her husband’s footsteps, Jada Pinkett-Smith also released her own children’s book in 2004. In the girl power-themed poem and photo book “Girls Hold Up This Word”, Pinkett-Smith aims to inspire and encourage young women of all races.
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In 2013, comedian Jim Carrey segued into children’s picture books with the award-winning “How Roland Rolls” — a story that draws from his own childhood.
The book follows a wave named Roland who fears his life will end once he hits the beach. But Roland soon sees that he rolls far deeper than he ever thought and realizes that he’s part of a big, wide ocean.
“How Roland Rolls” went on to win the prestigious Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award.
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The Queen of Pop has penned five children’s books, including “The English Roses”, “Mr. Peabody’s Apples”, and “Yakov and the Seven Thieves”.
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In “Just The Two of Us”, Will Smith tells the story of a strong father-and-son relationship through touching lyrics and photos that capture the love of a father as his son grows into a man.
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Comedian Russell Brand reinvents the old fairytale “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” in a book that appeals to both children and adults.
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In 2010, former U.S. president Barack Obama published the inspirational "Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters", which tells the story of 13 Americans, including Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and Neil Armstrong, whose groundbreaking actions shaped the United States for the better.
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In 2004, comedian and animal lover Ricky Gervais created a book series based on a group of seemingly useless animals. “It's based on a background in zoological knowledge,” says Gervais. “I actually went to university to study biology but changed courses after two weeks to avoid the nine o' clock lectures. I did philosophy instead. They both came in useful for this book. I've been trying to do it for about six years, but nobody answered the door until I knocked on it with four BAFTAs.”
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In 2002’s “Halloween”, Jerry Seinfeld takes on the year’s spookiest night for a picture book that captures his hilarious views and unwritten rules of the big day.
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In a touching tribute to her first child River Rose, singer Kelly Clarkson has penned two books inspired by her daughter and their collective adventures while out on tour.
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In "Welcome To Your World, Baby", Brooke Shields shares the joys of sisterhood as she tells the story of a child who welcomes her little sister into the world.
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Based on his song of the same name, Bruce Springsteen adapted the lyrics to 2009's “Outlaw Pete” into a children’s book five years after its release.
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In the ‘Sugar Plum Ballerinas’ book series, comedian Whoopi Goldberg and Deborah Underwood tell the story of ballet dancers who work together to battle stage fright and overcome hardships.
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Viola Davis’ foray into children’s books sees her pens the sequel to 1968's bestselling picture book “Corduroy”. “When I was a little girl, it wasn’t often that I found myself reflected in the pages of a book,” she tells People. “‘Corduroy’ was an exception, and I adored flipping through it. To be able to introduce a new generation, including my daughter, to this character that was so special to me in my childhood is an incredible honour.”
In “Corduroy Takes A Boy”, Davis follows the lovable teddy bears as he searches for his missing button.
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“The Talk” host Julie Chen recently revealed the completion of her very first children’s picture book! “When my son was born eight years ago... I got the inspiration because, like all mothers, I wondered who and what my child would grow up to be,” she told viewers.
"When I Grow Up," tells the story of a boy who shares his hopes and dreams for his future with his mother.
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Oscar winner Octavia Spencer published her first book “The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit” in 2013. The mystery book follows the tale of Randi Rhodes — the world’s first ninja detective — as he tries to crack the case of the town’s beloved time-capsule.
Spencer published a sequel to the book, “The Sweetest Heist in History” in 2015.
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Julianne Moore touched upon her own childhood dramas while penning the book “Freckleface Strawberry”, a story that revolves around a young girl who struggles to accept her freckles. Moore later expanded the book into a series that included five more tales.
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Ricky Martin’s children’s book tells of the journey of a young stage actor named Santiago who is rejected from his school's play. After turning to his father for support, the aspiring actor continues to reach for his dreams and soon realizes that the path to fame isn’t what he envisioned.
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Former “Glee” star Chris Colfer switched gears in 2012 when he began writing the bestselling children's book series, “The Land of Stories”. The fantasy and adventure-based collection of six books follows twins Alex and Conner Bailey as they discover an alternate world of wonder.
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In 2014, actor B.J. Novak penned the wildly refreshing No. 1 New York Times Bestseller “The Book with No Pictures”. The book teaches kids (and adults!) just how much fun can be had with the written and spoken word.