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The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Stars on the bookshelf: when celebrities write for children
On a chilly Sunday evening in January, I drove to Crossword at Mumbai's Kemp's Corner with my children to meet David Walliams. The celebrated British children's author and comedian was visiting as a part of his multi-city India book tour, and the bookstore had announced a meet-and-greet. I expected the whole affair to be a quick one — after all, how many people would want to meet Walliams in India? I could not have been more wrong. The large bookstore was filled with hundreds of children and parents buying books to sign, and queuing up to meet Walliams. He greeted them, signed books, posed for photographs, and encouraged them to continue reading. After all, the reason he writes books, he says, is to raise readers — a line that clearly resonated with parents eager to support anything that gets their child reading. The response Walliams got made me wonder — is this what a celebrity can do for the world of children's literature? Does fame guarantee sales? Celebrities-turned-authors are an all-too-familiar phenomenon in the U.K. and the U.S. From Meghan Markle to Jennifer Aniston, Natalie Portman to Jamie Oliver — celebrities have made it to bestseller lists with their children's books. These books are conveniently available as both hardcovers and ebooks. The topics they write about are as varied as their backgrounds. Actress and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon wrote the Busy Betty series in 2022, modelling the heroine on a childhood version of herself. Tennis superstar and philanthropist Serena Williams' The Adventures of Qai Qai, in which a little girl learns to believe in herself with the help of a doll, is inspired by her experiences with her daughter. Actress Gabrielle Union wrote Welcome to the Party to celebrate babies becoming a part of families through surrogacy and adoption. She also collaborated with her husband, basketball star Dwayne Wade, on Shady Baby — a book about standing up to bullies — inspired by their daughter Kaavia. Friends star Aniston recently released a picture book, Clydeo Takes a Bite Out of Life, about self-discovery and self-confidence, inspired by her pet dog Clyde. Books by celebrities garner attention, but do they guarantee sales? Sohini Mitra, who heads Penguin Random House India's Children and Young Adult division, says, 'Celebrity books don't guarantee high sales, as success still depends on the quality of the content and audience engagement. However, a celebrity author can boost the book's visibility, help it reach a broader audience, create buzz, and generate media attention.' Celebrity-authored books aren't always a success. In 2021, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, released The Bench, a love poem for new fathers, which was slammed by critics and parents alike. The New Statesman said, 'It was mind-boggling how bad the book is,' while others called it a 'literary atrocity'. The Indian scene In India, a few celebrities have turned authors. Actress Soha Ali Khan and her husband, actor Kunal Khemmu, wrote Inni and Bobo, a series about a little girl and her dog. Actress and entrepreneur Alia Bhatt wrote Ed Finds a Home, a picture book, launched as an extension of her children's clothing line, Ed-a-Mamma. The book was illustrated by the award-winning Tanvi Bhat who admits, 'The exposure it got because of the involvement of Alia Bhatt and her brand was unmatched.' One cannot deny that visibility has its perks. Grandma's Bag of Stories, authored by Sudha Murty, was the best-selling children's book in India, with 97,000 copies worth more than ₹18 million sold by 2021. Normalising ghost writing But does the success of a few titles justify the broader industry trend of commissioning celebrity authors? Lubaina Bandukwala, children's author and curator of literature festivals such as Peekabook, says, 'Celebrities usually have time only for their books. Seldom have I seen them use the platform to promote reading. It is a question of mindset — children's authors and those working in the children's literature space are more concerned about wanting kids to read, exposing them to newer themes, etc.' News and commentary platform The Conversation published an article by senior lecturer and author Penni Russon, who critiques how celebrity-authored books often undermine the craft. She highlights the 'derivative nature' of such books, which rely on tired tropes and rarely offer something original to children. Ashwitha Jaykumar, freelance editor and author of The Book of Emperors: An Illustrated History of the Mughals, finds the trend of celebrity authors disheartening. 'The worst outcome of publishers commissioning celebrity authors is that they normalise ghost writing or mediocre writing. If all it takes to be published is a pre-existing fan base, then what message does it send to people like us who spend years honing our craft? It's like saying the quality of your writing doesn't matter as much as the number of Instagram followers you have,' she says. But publishers continue to see value in commissioning celebrities to write children's books. Himanshu Giri, CEO, Pratham Books, explains, 'When influential voices from outside the traditional children's publishing space — whether economists like Esther Duflo, athletes, or artists — enter this world, they bring insight, purpose, and passion. Duflo, for instance, offers an economist's perspective on fairness, poverty, and inclusion, ideas that can be conveyed to children through age-appropriate storytelling.' The presence of a known name increases a book's discoverability and uplifts everyone connected to the project, from illustrators to publishers, especially in the 'independent' space. As Giri puts it: 'When respected and inspiring voices write for children, they lend credibility to the idea that children's books are serious, transformative work, drawing in new audiences, and shining a light on all those who are working quietly but powerfully to shape young minds.' However, for celebrity authors, the vibrant world of indie bookstores, where passionate readers and curated selections thrive, might still be out of reach. Vidya Mani, curator and co-founder of Funky Rainbow, a popular independent bookstore in Bengaluru, says, 'When people walk into our store, they are keen for us to recommend books that their children will enjoy. We have sold more books by Ashok Rajagopalan, Roopa Pai, Pika Nani, Priya Kuriyan, Rohan Chakravarty, and Asha Nehemiah than by any celebrity author. In our world, it is these authors and illustrators who are the real celebrities.' The writer is founder of Mother of Readers, a platform championing Indian children's literature.
Morocco World
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
FIFA Promises Spectacular Club World Cup Ceremony Starring Morocco's French Montana
Rabat — FIFA is gearing up for a grand opening ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup, which is coming next Saturday. The opening ceremony will take place at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium at 7:15 p.m. local time, which is after midnight in Morocco. The lineup for the grand opening ceremony will see superstars like Morocco's French Montana, as well as Swae Lee. 'Adding some global firepower to the line-up, hitmakers French Montana and Swae Lee will keep raising the energy levels just before the ball starts rolling with a genre-blending, high-octane performance – bringing a rap style that moves seamlessly between melody and momentum,' FIFA said on its website. Proud of his Moroccan roots, French Montana has many famous hits, including 'Unforgettable', 'Welcome to the Party', 'Famous', and 'All the Way Up'. Several rising stars will also be featured, including Vikina and Richaelio, with FIFA certain that they will bring 'rhythm, movement, and unmistakable Latin flair to a powerful performance.' The performance is produced by Emilio Esteefan Jr. 'We're welcoming the world to Miami with music, joy, and unity,' Estegan said, noting that the show will celebrate a multicultural sound from across the world. Morocco's Wydad Casablanca is among the clubs participating in the giant competition. The Moroccan club is among the challenging Group G, which includes champions like Manchester City, Juventus, as well as the UAE's Al Ain. Wydad will play against Manchester City at 5 p.m. Moroccan time, allowing fans to cheer on the Moroccan players racing for the FIFA Club World Cup trophy. The opening game will take place between Bayern Munich and Auckland City at 5 p.m. Moroccan time, followed by several other games, including Al Ahly vs Inter Miami at 1 a.m. Moroccan time. PSG versus Atlético Madrid will also be on Sunday at 8 p.m., as well as Palmeiras versus Porto at 11 p.m. Tags: Draw of the FIFA Club World CupFrench Montana
USA Today
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Survivor' 48, Episode 9 recap: Paranoia sets in for an alliance. Who goes home?
'Survivor' 48, Episode 9 recap: Paranoia sets in for an alliance. Who goes home? Show Caption Hide Caption Need a show to binge? These are the must watch shows this spring. USA TODAY's TV critic Kelly Lawler breaks down the best TV shows you don't to want to miss this spring. Although they tried to retain a united front, the strong majority alliance began to let infighting break them apart during the latest episode of "Survivor" Season 48. The ninth episode, titled "Welcome to the Party," saw the majority alliance of six members begin to turn on each other as paranoia crept in. Even after the majority group promised to play the game of "Survivor" with integrity and honor, deception and lies remained the real name of the game as allies turned on one another to vote out a castaway. At the start of the episode, there were nine players left and two members on the jury who will help cast votes for the $1 million winner and "sole survivor" of Season 48 of the long-running reality competition show. After this episode, only eight remain in the game, with three on the jury. Here's who was voted off this week. Who went home on 'Survivor' Season 48, Episode 9? The majority alliance, consisting of David Kinne, Kyle Fraser, Joe Hunter, Shauhin Davari, Eva Erickson and Mary Zheng, valued their physical strength and promised each other to play with honesty and integrity. But all is not as it seems, as Kyle has a secret alliance with Kamilla Karthigesu and was forming a side alliance with Shauhin, as both players distrust David. Eva was also holding onto her own secret after finding an advantage clue in the last episode. She snuck away from camp at night and earned a very useful safety-without-power advantage, allowing her to leave a future tribal council before votes are read, therefore saving herself from being voted out. At the immunity and reward challenge, players had to stand on a small platform holding onto a bar holding a ball up on a metal chute. Should they step off the platform or move their arms, therefore moving the ball, they would be out of the challenge. As has often been the case this season, the challenge became a showdown between the physically stronger players, and David and Joe battled it out for immunity. David eventually dropped out unexpectedly, letting Joe win and allowing him to take three others on a food reward. Joe chose Eva, Shauhin and Mitch Guerra, who had not yet been on a reward challenge and was very hungry after days with low to no food. Two names emerged as possibilities to go home as tribal council approached: David and Mitch. Feeling suspicious of fellow alliance members Shauhin and Kyle and a possible immunity idol that could be played on Kamilla, David urged players to vote for Mitch. Frustrated by David's gameplay and possible knowledge of his secret alliance with Kamilla, Kyle urged players to vote for David. It was a fairly close vote at tribal council between David and Mitch, but in the end, David, a 39-year-old stunt performer living in Buena Park, California, became the latest person voted out and the third member of the jury. 'Survivor' Season 48 cast: Meet the 18 castaways hoping to win $1 million in Fiji Who went home last week on 'Survivor' Season 48? During the challenge, five pairs worked as a team, moving through several stages of an obstacle course. Only three teams would make it to the second stage, and only two teams would make it to the third and final stage, where they would compete for individual immunity. The first two teams eliminated didn't get the reward of tacos and had to take a "journey," where they stood to lose their vote in the night's immunity challenge. Immunity came in a survivor classic challenge: "Get a Grip," where players must hold onto a narrow, tall pole for as long as possible. Eva Erickson, Joe Hunter, Mary Zheng and David Kinne competed in the immunity challenge, with Eva taking home her first individual immunity of the season. Going on the journey were Kamilla Karthigesu, Shauhin Davari, Star Toomey and Mitch Guerra. They had to compete in their own challenge that involved strategically picking up red and grey balls from a chute. The first player with three red balls lost their vote, and after a secret strategy between Mitch and Kamilla, Star was unable to cast a vote in the night's tribal council. Luckily for Star, her name wasn't on the chopping block. Players quickly honed in on sending either Kamilla, Shauhin or Chrissy Sarnowsky home. Panicked at the thought of Kamilla, his closest (and secret) ally leaving the game, Kyle desperately tried to convince others to vote for Chrissy instead, raising David's eyebrows and planting suspicion of an undercover alliance. But at tribal council, Chrissy expressed her frustration at the so-called strong player alliance between David, Eva, Joe and Shauhin, calling out Eva and Joe's close alliance and pleading for other players to recognize their gameplay. Her outburst was enough for a near-unanimous vote against Chrissy, and the 55-year-old fire lieutenant from Chicago became the latest person voted out of Season 48 and the second member of the jury. How to watch 'Survivor' Season 48 Season 48 of "Survivor" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET / PT on CBS and streams on Paramount+ for subscribers of the Paramount+ with Showtime plan. Episodes can be streamed the next day for subscribers of any Paramount+ plan. The previous 47 seasons of the show are all available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. Watch every season of Survivor on Paramount+ Who is the host of 'Survivor'? Jeff Probst has hosted all 48 seasons of the show, which has been on the air since 2000. He also serves as an executive producer. 'Survivor' 50: Jeff Probst talks casting all-stars season, whether he'd play 'Traitors' Who won 'Survivor' Season 47? Rachel Lamont won Season 47 of "Survivor," in a 7-1-0 vote against Sam Phalen, who got one vote, and Sue Smey. Lamont, a 34-year-old graphic designer from Southfield, Michigan, was originally on the Gata tribe and became the fifth woman ever to win four individual Immunity Challenges in a season. Where is 'Survivor' filmed? While "Survivor" previously took contestants to remote locations around the world, from the Pearl Islands to the Philippines and Guatemala, the show has been filmed in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji for the past 15 seasons. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
CairoScene
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Diplo to Take Over Dubai's Bohemia Beach Club on April 19th
The Grammy-nominated DJ and Major Lazer frontman is joining forces with Anrey, Sam Oui, and Love Leya for a night of electrifying grooves! Apr 13, 2025 American DJ and Major Lazer frontman Diplo is taking Dubai's Bohemia Beach Club by storm on Saturday, April 19th, bringing iconic hits like 'Lean On', 'Forever', 'Welcome to the Party', and more to the dancefloor! Renowned for his signature blend of reggae and electronic sounds, Diplo promises a high-energy set that fuses chart-topping hits with hypnotic beats – setting the stage for a groovy beachfront party experience like no other. The Grammy-nominated DJ will be joined by German-raised, Dubai-based selector Anrey, spinning back-to-back with Sam Oui, followed by global powerhouse Love Leya. The party begins at 7 PM, with ticket prices costing AED 150 upwards via Bohemia Dubai's official website.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle reveals Prince Harry's unhealthy eating habits
Meghan Markle has shed light on her husband Prince Harry's eating habits as she launches her new cooking show, With Love, Meghan. The Netflix show was originally due to be released in January but was postponed due to the California wildfires. The series consists of eight 33 minute-long episodes, with special appearances from some of the former actor's friends including Mindy Kaling and one of her former Suits co-stars, Abigail Spencer. During the series, the 43-year-old hints at her life behind the scenes, as she refers to making her children breakfast in the morning and 'doing the school run'. Using organic ingredients, including tomatoes and herbs sourced from her own garden, the Duchess of Sussex shared her love for making things from scratch, including food but also bath salts, candles, and balloon arches. In episode two, 'Welcome to the Party', Markle cooked with Office US star Kaling. As she prepared ahead of their meeting, she cut up some vegetables. 'I'll make some bacon too. I find when I'm cooking bacon, my kitchen very immediately becomes full of husband and three dogs,' she said. 'It's not my perfume that's bringing them all in. My bacon brings all the boys to the yard.' Later, she revealed Prince Harry's love for salt. As Kaling asked how she manages to season her food so perfectly, Markle explained that Harry's influence has prompted her to be more careful. 'Well, I have a family, a husband, who no matter what meal is put in front of him, before he tastes it, puts salt on,' she said. 'So I try to under-salt.' 'I love knowing that your husband likes it salty,' Kaling replied. In episode three, 'Two Kids from LA', Markle is joined by chef Roy Choi as they bond over growing up in Los Angeles. As Choi teaches Markle how to cook flavoursome Korean fried chicken, Markle added that Harry 'loves fried chicken'. The show marks Markle's second program with Netflix after 2022's Harry & Meghan tell-all royal docuseries, which was watched by over 2.4 million people on its launch day. The Duchess – who runs her yet-to-be-launched lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, which was recently rebranded As Ever – explains that her program is about 'connecting with friends' and making new ones in a trailer for the series. With Love, Meghan is available on Netflix
