Licensed Character Books
Hey, Check It Out: I Wrote a Joke Book!
As you may know, in addition to my work as a children’s book author, I’m also a television comedy writer. And for quite some time now, I’ve wanted to write a children’s joke book, which seemed like it would be a nice way to combine those two disparate sides of my career: the “kid lit” side and the “joke writer” side. Call it a short-term goal. Well, a few months ago, I got a chance to realize that goal.
That’s because I wrote a children’s book called The Bad Guys Joke Book, which will be published by Scholastic on July 1st, 2025.
Now, I should mention a couple of things, just because I don’t want to give you the wrong idea here: This book is not set in the world of the Bad Guys books written by Aaron Blabey. It is set in the world of the Bad Guys animated movies (and Netflix specials) which are based on those books.
You also might’ve noticed that the book is coming out on July 1st, just a few short weeks before the Bad Guys 2 movie opens. (That movie comes out on August 1st.) Does this book tie into that movie in any direct way? I’m afraid I can’t quite answer that question at this early date. You’ll have to read the book to find out!
And in the meantime, here’s the official publisher description of the book:
Get ready to laugh out loud with Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Ms. Tarantula, Mr. Piranha, and Mr. Shark! Packed with puns, funny fill-ins, limericks, and so much more, this joke book is the perfect companion to the Bad Guys Movie 2.
The Bad Guys Joke Book is available for preorder HERE, HERE, and HERE.
But if you click the link to the Scholastic Kids site – aka the third “HERE” link directly above – you’ll have to scroll down on that link to find The Bad Guys Joke Book, which is listed on that website as “Bad Guys Movie 2 Joke Book.” That’s the way it’s listed on most other book-related websites as well. I think the folks at Scholastic phrased it that way in the listings on these websites in order to make it clear that this joke book is set in the continuity of the Bad Guys movies, and also to remind readers that it’s coming out roughly around the same time as the second Bad Guys film. After all, as the official publisher description says, this book is the perfect companion to that movie!
I couldn’t agree more.
The Fantastic Four LGB Comes Out in July!
Last year, I wrote a children’s book called The Fantastic Four Little Golden Book, which was illustrated by Eda Kaban. It comes out on July 1, 2025 from Penguin Random House.
Just so you don’t get the wrong idea, I should also point out that – although The Fantastic Four LGB comes out just a few short weeks before the Fantastic Four: First Steps movie – it’s not an adaptation of that film. So if this book isn’t based on the movie, what is it? Well, I don’t want to say too much about it at this early date. But I can say that it’s a loving tribute to the 1960s-era Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Fantastic Four comics.
(And honestly, just from watching the FF: First Steps trailer, it certainly looks like that movie is also a tribute to the 1960s-era FF comics. So I guess the movie and this book both have that in common.)
Here’s the official publisher description of the book:
Marvel’s iconic first family of super heroes, the Fantastic Four, arrive to save the day in their first ever Little Golden Book!
When a team of four daring space explorers get bombarded by mysterious cosmic rays, they return to Earth changed forever. Given incredible powers, Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing band together to keep the world safe from super villains and alien invaders. These action-packed full-color pages will introduce these heroes’ amazing powers and their friends and foes! Kids 2 to 5—along with Marvel fans and collectors—will love this Little Golden Book based on The Fantastic Four.
And hey, did you notice that part in the publisher description where it said that this is the first-ever Fantastic Four Little Golden Book? Which is pretty cool! I’m very proud of this book, I had a fantastic * time writing it, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
Speaking of which, it’s available for preorder HERE, HERE, and HERE.
And to see all of the other books I’ve written for Penguin Random House, click HERE.
* Honestly, what other word was I going to use?
The Very Latest In Wearable Tech…
Recently, I wrote a Lilo & Stitch activity book called The Galactic Federation Nighttime Handbook. It’s out NOW from Scholastic! And the reason this is a “Nighttime Handbook” is that many of the activities and writing prompts in the book are sleep-themed. That is, they revolve around concepts such as sleep, dreams, the stars in the night sky, pajamas, your bedtime routine, and that sort of thing. So if you’re looking for a book that will help your kid get into the right frame of mind to power down and get ready for bed each night, this book should do the trick.
Here’s the official publisher description of The Galactic Federation Nighttime Handbook:
Greetings, Citizen of Earth! Welcome to the Galactic Federation! Experiment 626, also referred to as “Stitch,” is away on an interplanetary mission. In his place, he’s recommended you to help the Federation complete some very important tasks! To be a successful Galactic Federation operative, you’ll need to think and act like one. The activities and writing prompts in The Galactic Federation Nighttime Handbook will help you do so. In addition, you’ll be the first to use the Galactic Federation’s newest piece of wearable tech: the Supreme Lateral Energized Exoskeletal Polygonal Multifaceted Auxiliary Sensory Kudzuscope, or S.L.E.E.P. M.A.S.K.
That’s right, the book comes with a free Stitch-themed sleep mask, which is blue, furry, and super-adorable. However, I decided to make the sleep mask part of the book’s narrative. So, as the book’s official description explains, this is no mere sleep mask. It’s actually a piece of wearable tech, called the “S.L.E.E.P. M.A.S.K.” And in order to complete some of the activities in the book, you’ve got to wear the S.L.E.E.P. M.A.S.K. while you complete said activities!
(But that only applies to a handful of the activities in this book. For most of them, you don’t need to wear the S.L.E.E.P. M.A.S.K.)
And I should also mention that this book is only available for distribution through the school market. In other words, it’s exclusively available through Scholastic Reading Events, so you won’t be able to find it on Amazon or on Barnes & Noble’s website.
However, you CAN get it via this website.
Last but definitely not least, if you’d like to see some of the other books I’ve written for Scholastic over the years, you can click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.