In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes Kenan Thompson—SNL's longest-tenured cast member, comedian, and actor—to discuss his picture book debut, The Unfunny Bunny (co-authored with Bryan Tucker and illustrated by Tony Neal). Kenan shares how a simple rhyming title sparked a story about a bunny whose jokes fall flat on the first day of school, and why that journey from "unfunny" to finding your funny mirrors his own experiences in comedy.

From his favorite SNL sketches like "What's Up With That" to learning how to ice skate for a hockey role, Kenan opens up about the power of perseverance and why it's okay when things don't go according to plan. With humor and heart, he reveals what makes kids laugh and how the magic of friendship can help you find your voice. Whether you're a parent preparing a child for their first day of school or someone who's ever felt like their jokes didn't land, this conversation is a joyful reminder that trying, failing, and trying again is all part of the journey.

Read the transcript on The Children's Book Review.

Highlights:

• From SNL to Picture Books: Why Kenan wanted to jump into children's literature
• The Title Came First: How "Unfunny Bunny" sparked the entire story concept
• Comedy Lessons for Kids: What happens when your jokes don't land and how to keep going
• Don't Be Afraid to Scrape Your Knee: Kenan's philosophy on resilience and recovery

• What Makes Kids Laugh: The power of silliness, energy, and honest portrayal
• The Magic of Two Friends: Why partnership helps you find your balance
• Being Yourself is Enough: Kenan's message about confidence, friendship, and perseverance

Notable Quotes:

"Don't be afraid to scrape your knee. If you scrape your knee, put the bandaid on it and keep it moving. It'll heal and you'll be better off for it." —Kenan Thompson

"You really can do anything you put your mind to and try hard at. The timing part, you know, is the key." —Kenan Thompson

"Don't let anybody stop you. But also be willing to take on a passenger; there's nothing wrong with going down the road, not alone. We're supposed to be united in this world." —Kenan Thompson

Books Mentioned:

• The Unfunny Bunny by Kenan Thompson, Bryan Tucker, and Tony Neal: Amazon or Bookshop.org

About Kenan Thompson:

Kenan Thompson's career spans decades, including being the longest-tenured Saturday Night Live cast member in history and starring in family-centric projects like Kenan and Kel, All That, The Grinch, the Trolls franchise (as Tiny Diamond—the cutest character ever), The Mighty Ducks 2 and 3, Smurfs 1 and 2, and both Good Burgers. The Emmy award-winning actor’s iconic work has made him a beloved household name. Unfunny Bunny is his debut picture book.

Credits:

Host: Bianca Schulze
Guest: Kenan Thompson
Producer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes Penn Holderness—content creator, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author—to discuss his picture book, All You Can Be With ADHD (co-authored with Kim Holderness). Penn shares his journey from being diagnosed with ADHD in college after chewing on a fly swatter at his grandmother's funeral to creating a joyful, empowering book that invites kids to join the ADHD Club rather than just cope with a diagnosis.

What started as an adult book became a children's resource after parents at book signings asked for something their kids could understand. Penn opens up about why he felt like "no one in history was as weird as I was," how his deeply feeling nature and emotional regulation delays shaped his childhood, and why ADHD is a delay—not a deficit. With humor and honesty, he reveals how sharks, ninjas, and a fiddle-playing snake came to represent the creative, wild world of ADHD brains, and why understanding executive function development can change everything for kids and parents alike.

Read the transcript on The Children's Book Review.

Highlights:

• The Fly Swatter Moment: Penn's unexpected ADHD diagnosis story
• From Academic Probation to Author: How college struggles led to understanding
• The ADHD Club Concept: Why Penn chose a playful clubhouse over clinical terminology
• Executive Function is Delayed: Understanding brain development in ADHD kids
• Deeply Feeling Kids: Penn's emotional regulation journey and what he wishes he'd known
• From Social Media to Books: How kids at signings inspired the picture book
• Teacher Resources: The curriculum Penn and Kim created for classroom discussions
• It's Not Just Medical: Why modern ADHD understanding focuses on brain differences, not just deficits

Notable Quotes:"It is a delay... our executive functioning part of our brain is underdeveloped. And that goes on through most of childhood and adolescence, and it will catch up in some ways during adulthood." —Penn Holderness

"I always thought of ADHD as a club, as a group of people... people who weren't sure why they were drawn to each other, but were able to kind of live creatively." —Penn Holderness

Books Mentioned:

• All You Can Be With ADHD by Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness: Amazon or Bookshop.org
• ADHD Is Awesome by Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness: Amazon or Bookshop.org

The Educator Guide for this book can be found at the bottom of the publisher's book page: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/penn-holderness/all-you-can-be-with-adhd/9780316597678/

About Penn Holderness:Penn Holderness is a content creator, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author known for his viral videos with his wife Kim. Together they've built a community around honest conversations about parenting, marriage, and mental health. After being diagnosed with ADHD in college, Penn has become an advocate for understanding and celebrating neurodivergent brains. He and Kim are the authors of ADHD Is Awesome and All You Can Be With ADHD.

Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Penn Holderness

Audio Editor: Kelly RinkProducer: Bianca Schulze