Look Who’s Writing Children’s Books! By Jennifer Rudolph
Lately, celebrities have been lining up to join the ranks of children’s book authors. Interested in what all the buzz is about? Read on for our comments on a handful of these books. We’ll help you choose the right one for your favorite KIWI kid.
Queen of the Scene (book and CD), by Queen Latifah, illustrations by Frank Morrison (NY: HarperCollins Publishing, 2006), ages 3–8.
Grammy award-winning actress and hip-hop artist Queen Latifah uses exciting rhymes to tell the story of a boisterous little girl, the “queen of the scene,” as she plays basketball, runs, builds sandcastles and jumps rope with her friends. The painted illustrations are exuberant and active. Most captivating is Queen Latifah’s recorded rap of the book, which is accompanied by music. This is an empowering book for girls!
Actor and New York Times best-selling author John Lithgow enlists the narrative help of Marsupial Sue and her animal friends, dressed in homemade costumes, to tell the traditional tale of the runaway pancake. The book, which includes endearing illustrations, comes with a CD of Lithgow performing the story/song in front of a participative audience of children. Kids will love singing along with the runaway pancake!
Girls Hold up This World, by Jada Pinkett Smith, photographs by Donyell Kennedy-McCullough (NY: Scholastic/Cartwheel Books, 2004), ages 4–9.
Actress Jada Pinkett Smith’s short rhyming book encourages self-confidence in girls by celebrating women’s diversity and strength. The rhythm of the text is sometimes forced, but young children will enjoy the bright, full-page color photos, which depict women of all ages, races and creeds interacting and engaging in ballet, yoga meditation and sports.
The Great American Mousical Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton, illustrations by Tony Walton (NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2006), ages 5–9.
A troupe of Broadway mice work against the odds to put on a benefit show, despite the kidnapping of their star and the planned tear-down of their theater. Julie Andrews Edwards and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, infuse the story with their extensive knowledge of Broadway culture, bringing humor to what some younger readers may find to be a complicated cast of characters and plotline.
Teammates by Tiki and Ronde Barber, with Robert Burleigh, illustrations by Barry Root (NY: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, 2006), ages 6–10.
The Barber twins’ third book about their childhood as budding NFL stars tells of their dedication to the game and to each other. It’s an inspiring, well-written story that conveys a message of teamwork and brotherly love. The full-page illustrations are warm, colorful and inviting.
World-renowned chef Emeril Lagasse expands his series of cookbooks for children to highlight dishes from around the world. Each recipe is illustrated with fun art and photographs and describes the culture and country it comes from. Icons denoting necessary safety precautions help parents choose age-appropriate recipes that everyone in the family can enjoy preparing.
