What do Greg James, Channing Tatum, and Meghan Markle all have in common? While these celebs might seem poles apart, they have all embarked on the same side hustle, one that is quickly becoming one of the most celebrity-crowded careers out there. These famlous names have all put pen to paper to become published children's authors.
It is predicted that the UK publishes approximately 200,000 books a year, with 10,000 of these being children's books, according to University College London [1]. And while these figures suggest that the book industry is booming, why are so many celebs, who are already hugely successful (and well paid) in their own careers, bothering to take time out of their busy schedules to pen a bedtime story?
It all becomes a little less surprising when you take a quick look at the king of celebrity children's books: David Walliams. The former "Britain's Got Talent" judge published his debut book, "The Boy in the Dress", back in 2008. He was by no means the first celebrity to ever put their name to a children's book, but he did become an overnight literary success story.
The book, illustrated by much-loved children's illustrator Quentin Blake, quickly became a number one best seller in Britain and became hailed as a literary winner. His follow-up book, "Mr Stink", came in 2009, followed by "Billionaire Boy" in 2010 and "Gangsta Granny" in 2011, making Walliams the fastest growing children's author in the UK, selling an average of 20,000 books a week, per BookTrust [2].
Now, over a decade on, Walliams has published 25 children's books and celebrated more than 180 weeks on the No 1 spot in the children's book charts. To put that into perspective, not even Harry Potter author J K Rowling can claim that accolade.
From a comedian and actor to not just the UK's highest-earning children's author, but one of the highest earning authors overall, it's not surprising that other celebs want a piece of Walliams's highly lucrative pie. One that is, according to Metro [3], worth over £100 million, and sees him take home over £18 million a year. So, is it all down to money that so many of these celebs are picking up pen and writing kids books?
"It offers a really valuable way to build a celebrity's personal brand within an audience and space that perhaps previously they would not have had much of a foothold."
Talent manager and co-founder of the Diving Bell Group [4] Kim Butler says it's way more than just a cash injection. "These days, to stay relevant long-term as a celebrity, you need to build a brand," she tells POPSUGAR. "If a celebrity has the right type and size of audience and – ideally – they also have children of their own, it can make huge sense for them to explore writing children's books. Children's literature can be an incredibly lucrative market but, more importantly, it offers a really valuable way to build a celebrity's personal brand within an audience and space that perhaps previously they would not have had much of a foothold."
Plus, if their books do well, there's also the spinoff opportunities, book-to-TV shows [5], and franchises that can be capitalised on with the kid's book market. "If their books become successful, celebrities become a branded author within the children's books market and are then able to release multiple books under this brand name. This can lead to multiple book deals, which is good money, but also allows the next step to take place," Butler continues. "This would be to explore other areas of opportunity, for example live shows, merchandise, and children's TV, all of which offer high financial gain and keep that celebrity relevant and in the public eye."
Celebrities also have the added benefit of often having a high following, leading to a marketing dream. "The more successful their books are, the higher an advance can be negotiated as the publisher knows there is minimal risk," she says. "If a celebrity already has a name that people know, it interests publishers, and then if they can actually write, it can be a match made in heaven. Publishers rely on their books being marketed and, when they team up with a celebrity, the majority of the marketing is through the celeb's own channels, their Instagram, and TiKTok, and this large and incredibly engaged audience is key to making their book sales a success."
From a Spice Girl to Magic Mike's leading star, keep reading for some unlikely celebrities who have written children's books.
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: David Walliams
Comedian David Walliams has now published over 25 children's books and sold over 50 millions worldwide, according to World of David Walliams [6]. He launched his publishing career in 2008 with debut novel "The Boy in the Dress", two years after he shot to fame in "Little Britain". The book "Mr Stink" followed in 2009, followed by "Billionaire Boy" in 2010 and, perhaps his most famous book, "Gangsta Granny" in 2011, which went straight to number 1 in the children's book charts and is still his most popular story. Globally his books have been translated into 25 different languages with many of his stories being made into TV films.
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Greg James
BBC Radio One DJ Greg James released the first in his series of Kid Normal books back in July 2017. Written together with newsreader Chris Smith, Kid Normal is now a six book series about a normal boy who lives in a world of super heroes with no powers of his own. The first book was a huge success, selling over 100,000 copies and making it the biggest selling children's debut of the year. Since then, the series has been taking the children's book market by storm, with five follow-up novels released in 19 languages.
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Meghan Markle
Releasing "The Bench" in 2021, Markle's first kid's book is a picture book that looks at the relationship between a father and son, and touches on the many ways that love can be expressed in a family. Forbes magazine [7] reported that the book deal earned the mum-of-two [8] an advance of £500,000.
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Tom Fletcher
Having found success in the band McFly, Tom Fletcher has also become one of the UK's best-selling children's authors. His story writing success began in 2016 with "The Christmasaurus" – a novel for young readers that combines Fletcher's two favourite things: Christmas and dinosaurs.
Since then, he has found huge success with his "Dinosaur That Pooped" series, written with bandmate Dougie Poynter, containing nine books and having sold over a million copies.
Fletcher also published novel "The Creakers", a number one bestseller, and most recently became the author of the In Your Book series, with stories including "There's a Monster in Your Book", "There's an Elf in Your Book", and "There's a Dragon in Your Book". And top it off, Fletcher joined forces with his wife and "I'm a Celeb" winner Giovanna Fletcher, to release "Eve of Man", the first in a young adult trilogy of books.
Fletcher, dad of three boys, has seen his books translated into 32 languages.
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Idris Elba
The "Luthur" actor has become famous for his action-packed roles in dramatic TV shows, and has even been touted as the next James Bond [9], but he's set to show his softer side with a children's book. Elba signed a multi-book deal with publisher HarperCollins [10] for a series of picture books and fiction inspired by his daughter [11].
He said at the time: "I feel privileged to have the opportunity to bring stories inspired by my daughter to life with my incredible partner Robyn Charteris, and the powerhouse team at HarperCollins."
Originally due to be released in 2022, we are still waiting for the release. POPSUGAR reached out to HarperCollins for an update, but did not immediately receive a response.
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Channing Tatum
You might not image Magic Mike being the sort of guy to pen a children's story, but actor Channing Tatum [12] has had huge success with his Sparkella series. First published in 2022 with "The One and Only Sparkella", this year Tatum published his follow-up, "The One and Only Sparkella and the Big Lie".
The books were both inspired by his daughter Everly [13], nine, whom he shares with ex, Jenna Dewan, and says her stories are too good not to write down. The success of the stories has led to the commission of a Sparkella live-action movie [14] and rumours of a Sparkella animated TV series.
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Fearne Cotton
Since launching her podcast "Happy Place" in 2017, Fearne Cotton has been open about mental health and how to find happiness in the every day. In 2022, she launched "Happy From Head to Toe", a book for kids to explain the relationship between mind and body, with expert tips and celebrity advice. Prior to this, she'd released "Yoga Babies" and "Hungry Babies", educational picture books for kids. Using her parental experience (she's a mum of two and a stepmum of two), Cotton has carved out a career in helping adults and kids navigate the ups and downs of life.
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Dermot O'Leary
TV presenter Dermot O'Leary made the leap from broadcasting to writing back in 2017 and has since made a name for himself with the Toto the Ninja Cat series. Inspired by his own pet cats, he has released five in the series and, in 2023, released "Wings of Glory".
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Geri Halliwell-Horner
"Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen", released in 2023, is aimed at teenagers and tells the store of a 13-year-old girl who suddenly finds herself orphaned She's sent to Bloodstone Island, a school founded by Queen Elizabeth I for extraordinary teens and endangered species. Seven years in the making, the Spice Girl told POPSUGAR [15]: "'Rosie' is about finding the courage you never knew you had. Sometimes we need to find our power, we need to borrow each other's confidence to stand up to people or to situations."
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X, the Grammy award-winning singer who is best known for song "Old Town Road", wrote and released his first children's book, "C Is for Country", in January 2021. It's a story about a little boy who wears a pink rhinestone cowboy outfit and travels around a farm pointing out things that bring him joy, and it was a big hit.
Lil Nas X began building a brand within the children's market after performing his music at elementary schools in the US, with one viral school performance [16] gaining him 6 million views. So it's only a matter of time before we get a follow-up book, surely?
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Mariah Carey
The queen of Christmas tops the charts every year with her famous festive song, so it's unsurprising she stuck with the Christmas theme when it came to penning a children's book. Mariah Carey [17]'s first children's book, "The Christmas Princess", was published in 2022 and follows the story of "Little Mariah" who uses her voice to spread the Christmas spirit to those around her.
Carey said, via Billboard [18], "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." A mum-of-two [19] herself, Carey hasn't yet announced plans for another installment, but we'll be keeping an eye out.
Celebrity Children's Book Authors: Pharrell Williams
It was one of the catchiest songs ever released, so it made sense when Pharrell Williams turned his "Happy" lyrics into a book for children in 2015. The dad-of-four [20]'s book combines the lyrics to his song (known to many kids after it became the soundtrack to the Despicable Me films) with illustrations of children celebrating what it means to be happy. William's said the book was inspired by his son, Rocket.