SNL star Kenan Thompson releases his first children’s book, Unfunny Bunny, a heartwarming and humorous story about school, jokes, and unexpected friendship.
“Knock knock.” Who’s there? A brand-new children’s book from one of America’s most beloved comedians.
Kenan Thompson, the longest-tenured cast member on Saturday Night Live, is stepping into children’s publishing with his debut book, Unfunny Bunny, releasing January 13 from Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
What ‘Unfunny Bunny’ Is About
Unfunny Bunny follows Bunny on his very first day of school. His goal is simple: be the funniest kid in class. But when Bunny’s jokes don’t land the way he expects, he’s forced to confront disappointment—and discovers something even better along the way.
According to the publisher, the book is a laugh-out-loud story centered on:
- Unexpected friendship
- Chasing your dreams
- Learning that humor isn’t always about being perfect
The book also includes 30 intentionally “unfunny” jokes, designed to be shared, repeated, and enjoyed together.
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A Book Meant to Be Shared
Thompson says he envisioned Unfunny Bunny as a group experience, much like families gathering around the TV to watch comedy together.
He hopes kids and parents will read the book out loud, test the jokes on each other, and turn it into what he calls a “multi-player experience.” That interactive spirit reflects Thompson’s longtime love of collaboration, something he’s embraced throughout his career in sketch comedy.
Comedy, Collaboration, and Craft
Working alongside cowriter Bryan Tucker and illustrator Tony Neal, Thompson found the children’s book process far more time-intensive than writing a comedy sketch.
As he explains, jokes often need real-world testing before they truly work. Reading humor aloud, bouncing it off others, and seeing genuine reactions are essential steps—especially when writing for kids.
That approach seems to have paid off. Thompson has already shared Unfunny Bunny with elementary and middle school students and says the early reactions were encouraging.
Who the Book Is For
Although Unfunny Bunny is aimed at children ages 3 to 6, Thompson believes humor has no age limit.
- Kids can share the jokes at school or on the playground
- Families can read and laugh together
- Even adults may find themselves smiling at the deliberately corny humor
The goal, Thompson says, is simple: give people a reason to giggle.
Could There Be More ‘Unfunny Bunny’?
If readers connect with Bunny, Thompson is open to continuing the character’s journey—or exploring entirely new stories. For him, creating is less about the format and more about contributing something joyful to the world.
Whether on television, on stage, or now on the page, Kenan Thompson shows no signs of slowing down. Unfunny Bunny is just his latest way of spreading laughter—one “unfunny” joke at a time.
