The singer-songwriter is the latest celebrity-cum-children’s book author, joining the likes of Julianne Moore and Bob Dylan
After coming out with two children’s albums, singer-songwriter Jewel is the latest celebrity to write a children’s book. Whether the outcome is a princess, a prankster or a ballerina, we at Elizabeth Street love the plotlines of these celebrity-scribed stories.
That’s What I’d Do by Jewel (Paula Wiseman Books, Sept 2012): New mom Jewel puts her songwriting skills to work in That’s What I’d Do, a picture book with an audio CD scheduled for release this fall. We’re excited to see—and hear—her first children’s story.
Freckleface Strawberry: Best Friends Forever by Julianne Moore (Bloomsbury, 2011): Though it’s hard to believe Julianne Moore ever felt like an odd duck, the actress named the Freckleface Strawberry books after her own childhood nickname. Its latest installment, Best Friends Forever, continues to encourage children to embrace their differences.
Sugar Plum Ballerinas by Whoopi Goldberg (Hyperion, 2012): We love Goldberg’s collection of Sugar Plum Ballerinas—each prima with her own personality, and each book with its own message. The latest, Dancing Diva, is scheduled for release in May.
It’s the Best Day Ever, Dad! by Brooke Shields (HarperCollins, 2009): We love this story about two girls’ fun day with their father, just because “mom needs a day to rest.” It’s a beautiful tribute to a girl’s relationship with her dad, and the perfect Father’s Day gift.
The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews (Little, Brown, 2010): Our own childhood fixture, Julie Andrews, appeals to a new generation with The Very Fairy Princess. The charming story, which she wrote with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, teaches readers the importance of authenticity and “inner sparkle.”
Tilly the Trickster by Molly Shannon (Abrams, 2011): Tilly is far more prankster than princess, and we can’t help but see Shannon herself in her character’s refreshingly mischievous personality.
Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan (Sterling, 2011): Award-winning illustrator Jon J. Muth’s visual interpretations of Dylan’s lyrics make this book as much a collector’s item as it is a children’s story. We’re not sure whether it should go in the nursery or on the coffee table