6 celebrity-penned kids' books

In the noughties, a glut of celebrities put their name to children’s books. In these more austere times, however, publishers have become much choosier about which actor, pop star or model to back as a children’s writer (or at least someone who sits in the same room as a writer and chats with them about some half-baked plot ideas). Has this meant an increase in quality? Here’s a round-up of new titles to find out.

By Melissa McClements

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A New Day at School and A Happy Birthday Partyby Peter Andre and Sarah Fabiny (Ladybird, £4.99 each)

Glamour-girl-arm-candy and pop sensation Peter Andre apparently tells these two stories to his children. Let’s be clear though, he didn’t write the books. A ghost writer did that.

And even with professional help the result is, erm, a bit sweet and simple – rather like the man himself, some might say (although definitely not me rich libel lawyers). Story-wise, it’s all very self-explanatory.

In the first, Dad does the school run. In the second, he helps his children organise a surprise party (Mummy doesn’t feature – I don’t imagine fellow ‘author’ Katie Price is too chuffed with that). The emphasis on father-child relationships is nice. Otherwise, it’s all a little bland.

Available to buy at Amazon.co.uk

See also:
- The top celebrity kids book authors
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The Windvale Sprites by Mackenzie Crook (Faber and Faber, £9.99)

The star of The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean has written a cracker for boys and girls aged eight and over. Set in the aftermath of a hurricane, it’s the story of school boy Asa Brown, who finds the body of a sprite in the wreckage of his garden pond.

He then discovers a colony of the winged creatures on the moorland outside his town and sets about trapping one. Along the way, he also uncovers the terrible secrets of 18th century alchemist Benjamin Tooth – the only other human ever to have encountered the little flying folk.

Forget about standard saccharine fairy fare, this compelling mystery is tinged with darkness. It also contains a strong environmental message, which, thankfully, isn’t rammed home too clumsily. Crook’s own illustrations are pretty good too.

Available to buy at Amazon.co.uk
See also:
- The top celebrity kids book authors
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Gansta Granny by David Walliams (Harper Collins, £12.99)

Comedian David Walliams received rave reviews for his first three children’s novels and his latest is also sure to be a hit. Eleven-year-old Ben hates staying with his Granny every Friday when his parents have their date night.

She stinks of cabbage, has a flatulence problem and makes him play scrabble. He’s then amazed to find out that she’s secretly an international jewel thief. Before long, they’re planning the greatest heist of all time. The Little Britain star’s juvenile humour – especially his love of fart gags – is obviously comedy gold for boys aged around nine.

But Gangsta Granny, surprisingly, turns into a genuinely moving tearjerker by the end – without ever descending into mushiness.

Available to buy at Amazon.co.uk
See also:
- The top celebrity kids book authors
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Hollow Earth by John and Carole E. Barrowman (Buster Books, £6.99)

Out in February, this paranormal mystery fromTorchwood and musical theatre star John Barrowman and his big sister Carole (a professor of English, somewhat helpfully) is – unexpectedly, I have to admit – gripping.

Any eight to twelve-year-olds who like a bit of fantasy will love it. It starts in a monastery in the middle ages. A monk’s apprentice witnesses a griffin on a manuscript come to life. The action then jumps to present day London. Twelve-year-old twins Matt and Emily Calder are bored at The National Gallery.

They copy a Parisian painting into their sketchbooks. Within seconds they are swimming in the Seine. Like the medieval monk, they are Animares, artists with the extraordinary power of bringing their pictures to life. Their abilities, however, are sought after by evil forces. Frenetic adventure ensues.

Available to buy at Amazon.co.uk
See also:
- The top celebrity kids book authors
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Playground by 50 Cent and Laura Moser (£6.99, Quercus)

Billed as ‘the mostly true story of a former bully’, this semi-autobiographical young adult novel from the US Rapper is one of only two on this list to be penned by a ghost writer. It’s the tale of 13-year-old Butterball.

Overweight, struggling to fit in at a new school and devastated by his parents’ separation (but unable to admit it), he turns to violence to pep up his flagging self-esteem. Many parents won’t like the graphic descriptions of his outbursts. The handful of batteries stuffed into a sock and smashed into the teeth of archetypal nerd Maurice, for example, is stomach-churning.

Oh and, of course, there’s bad language too. Eventually– abetted by some heavy-handed moralising – Butterball learns the error of his ways. Although unlikely to win any major literary prizes soon, Playground offers bite-sized chapters and urban credentials that could well appeal to reluctant reader teen boys.

Available to buy at Amazon.co.uk
See also:
- The top celebrity kids book authors
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Modelland by Tyra Banks (Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers, £11.99)

A supermodel putting out a novel about a young girl who breaks into the glossy, but cut-throat, world of high fashion can attract a lot of flak. Ask Naomi Campbell. Her Swan, out in 1995, was trashed by critics everywhere.

The debut teen novel from the host of America’s Next Top Model takes this trite tale and does something, well, frankly, a little bit weird with it. Set in some kind of parallel universe where beauty is the universal religion, it describes how gawky Tookie de la Crème becomes one of a handful of girls selected to compete to become one of seven ‘Intoxibellas’ (supermodels in a size zero thin disguise).

She goes to live in the not overly imaginatively entitled ‘Modelland’ on top of a mysterious mountain. There she braves ‘Catwalk Corridor’ and ‘Thigh-High Boot Camp’. The overall message of beauty coming from within is undeniably positive – but Banks’ attempted satire is, at times, cringeworthy and, at others, more than a little bonkers.

Available to buy at Amazon.co.uk
See also:
- The top celebrity kids book authors
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Next Up: The best books for kids this Christmas
Bamboozled by the huge number of new children’s books out there, but determined to put some reading material in your little ones&rsqu

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Sally McRoberts (not verified) replied 24 weeks 4 hours ago

Just buoght the McKenzie Crook book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - thanks.

Pippa Nash (not verified) replied 24 weeks 5 days ago

Really useful summary. I prefer not to read ghost-written novels as I'm interested in good writers celebrity or not. It's clear that MacKenzie Crook and David Walliams are both very talented. The surprise for me is John Barrowman. I don't like him very much, but his book will be perfect for my niece, thanks for the idea. Off to buy it now.

Sally McRoberts (not verified) replied 24 weeks 6 days ago

Normally I'd shy away from celebrity-penned anythings, but this encouraged me to look into the Barrowman book - turns out it's considered a bit of a page turner.