THE WRITE STUFF 5 FOR 10
Once upon a time... Marion McMullen looks at stars inspired by family to write a children’s book
LEADING scientist Professor Stephen Hawking worked with his daughter Lucy on science fiction series George’s Secret Key To The Universe for young readers. They also brought out Unlocking The Universe, packed with facts about space.
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MAGIC MIKE star Channing Tatum has said he channelled the “little girl in me” while working on The One And Only Sparkella during lockdown. The 40-year-old announced on Twitter: “Guys, I don’t know about you but things got a little weird for me in quarantine.”
He has dedicated his first children’s book to his seven-year-old daughter Every and the story will be published by Macmillan in May.
MADONNA’S first children’s book, The English Roses, became an international best seller after it was published in 2003 and it has been followed by Lotsa de Casha, Mr Peabody’s Apples and Yakov And The Seven Thieves. The English Roses was influenced by her daughter Lourdes and she accompanied her mum on several book tours.
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SIMON COWELL and his son Eric, inset, have signed a publishing deal for seven children’s books celebrating “individuality and positivity”. Their Wishfit series will follow a group of “magical and unusual” hybrid animals, such as a snail/dog creature called a Snog and a crocodile/cat blend called a Crocopuss. The books, published by Hachette Children’s Group, are set to launch next spring
DAME Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma have written more than 30 children’s books together, including The Very Fairy Princess and they launched a weekly podcast aimed at children during lockdown called Julie’s Library. The Sound Of Music star turned to writing after surgery on her vocal chords in 1997 meant she could could not sing. 8 BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT judge Alesha Dixon’s fifth children’s book, Star Switch, was published by Scholastic earlier this year. The mother of daughters Azura and Anaya said: “I had a wonderful moment recently when Azura wrote her own book, because she’d seen me write mine. If I can inspire her to create something just by watching me, then it makes all I’m doing worthwhile.”
OF THEE I SING: A Letter To My Daughters was written by former US President Barack
Obama in
2010. The children’s picture book highlighted the lives of
13 groundbreaking Americans from astronaut Neil Armstrong to singer Billie Holiday.
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THE birth of surrogacy twins Valentino and Matteo inspired singer Ricky Martin to write Santiago The Dreamer In Land Among The Stars in 2013 about a boy encouraged by his father to follow his dreams. The Livin’ La Vida Loca singer, who now has four children with husband Jwan Yosef, also brought out Santiago & Alejandro’s Adventure three years later.
FILM star Jim Carrey dedicated his children’s book How Roland
Rolls to his grandson Jackson.
The Mask and Ace Ventura actor won the 2013 Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award for his story about a wave who’s afraid if he hits the beach he will die.
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YOGA BABIES saw TV presenter Fearne Cotton combine her love of reading and yoga. She enjoys doing both with her children Rex and Honey and the book offered young readers the chance to try yoga poses around the house. Fearne juggled yoga workouts with home schooling during lockdown.