Celebrities Who Write Children's Books: Katie Couric, Jay Leno, Madonna and Many More

It's quite common for artists and other famous folks to cross over from one genre to the other these days. Pop singers become actresses. Sports stars become actors. Heiresses to hotel chains try to become reality television stars.... You get the idea.

Many singers, actors and television personalities have made the jump to authoring children's books. Here is a look at a few famous people who published a story just for kids:

Jimmy Buffet-The Jolly Mon
Jimmy Buffet takes kids and parents alike on a Caribbean trip-not to Margaritaville, but instead to Bananaland. The Jolly Mon is a fisherman who likes to sing and just found a magical guitar. The book follows Jolly Mon on his adventures at sea. The book is accompanies by a CD.

Katie Couric- The Brand New Kid
CBS anchor Katie Couric has two children's books under her belt. The first is the rhyming tale of accepting a new kid (even though he looks and speaks different) aptly called The Brand New Kid.

Jay Leno- If Roast Beef Could Fly
Tonight Show host Jay Leno takes his comedy to the pages of a children's book, modeled after real (yet exaggerated) incidents from his childhood. The story revolves around his Italian father making over the back deck, complete with a huge rotisserie and then planning for a big summer barbeque. The book comes with a CD of Leno narrating the story.

LeAnn Rimes- Jag and Jag's New Friend
It seems like just yesterday that country singer LeAnn Rimes was just a kid. Now, along with her husband she wrote a series of moralistic stories about Jag, a jaguar cub and her friendship with other animals.

Madonna- several
Madonna has released several children's books, five of which are now available in a box-set. Perhaps her very-much adult book, Sex was too much for the 'material girl' who now is a mother. Madonna's books include: The English Roses, The Adventures of Abdi, Too Good to Be True, Yakov and the Seven Theives, Mr. Peabody's Apples and Lotsa de Casha. Critics gave Madonna pretty good reviews for her stab at children's book authoring.

Dolly Parton- The Coat of Many Colors
Dolly Parton's legendary song about a poor girl whose mother sews her a patchwork coat turned into a children's book of the same name in 1996. The story centers around a poor family who get clever in ways to get the things they need.

John Travolta- Propeller One-Way Night Coach: A Fable For All Ages
With movies like Pulp Fiction to his credit, a children's book wouldn't seem likely from John Travolta. But, he does it with this story of a young boy boarding a flight on the Propeller One-Way Night Coach. However, a snow storm causes the flight to last longer than usual.

Henry Winkler (The Fonz)- Day of the Iguana
The former Happy Days star Henry Winkler co-wrote a children's book with Lin Oliver. Day of the Iguana is about a young boy, Henry (of course) who finds his sister's iguana laid 18 eggs in his science project.