Ms. Rachel plans “Special Surprise” for her first children’s book

Ms. Rachel has cut through the clutter on YouTube Kids to become one of the platform’s most trusted creators. Now, she’s entertaining her 8.6 million YouTube subscribers through a new medium: Literature. She has inked a deal with Penguin Random House to publish her first children’s book, which is due out in September.

The host of the Ms. Rachel videos, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, announced her Penguin Random House deal during an appearance on Good Morning America. Her first book will be titled Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise and will feature illustrations from Monique Dong. The book’s subtitle reveals its goal: It is Ms. Rachel’s way of “Encouraging Speech and Learning Through Play and Music.”

Tuneful videos and the power of play have become regular themes on Accurso’s YouTube channel, which got more than 336 million monthly views in December 2023 alone. In an era when child safety on social media has become a hot-button political issue, Accurso uses her learned background (she has master’s degrees in early childhood development and music education) to produce videos that entertain children while simultaneously advancing their cognitive and social development.

Penguin Random House, which is publishing Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise through its Random House Books for Young Readers imprint, believes that the upcoming title will bring Accurso’s cheery disposition to the literary medium. “Ms. Rachel’s debut into the world of publishing is magical,” said Barbara Marcus, President and Publisher of Random House Books, in a statement. “She has captivated the hearts of children far and wide with her original songs and stories, including my grandson, and we are thrilled to support Ms. Rachel’s new world of imagination and joy for years to come.”

Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise will include a merchanding tie-in thanks to a partnership with Spin Master. The toy company will release developmental products, such as “Ms. Rachel’s Surprise Learning Box,” as complements to the creator’s book.

Accurso’s literary debut will see publication on September 24. More details about the book are available via Amazon.