LeBron James Announces Children's Book 'Happy Spooky Halloween' Releasing in 2026

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James announced the release of a Halloween-themed children's book titled "Happy Spooky Halloween," scheduled for publication on July 21, 2026. James described this project as a "bucket list item" and shared on social media that he was a dedicated reader of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series during his middle-school years.

The book, illustrated by Ariel Landy and published by HarperCollins, is characterized as a "spooktacular picture book about teamwork and Halloween thrills." According to the publisher, the story follows main character Zara and her friends who discover that a Halloween party at their elementary school is "a little too spooky," leading to concerns about having fun. The plot centers on whether the students, both older and younger, can collaborate to create the perfect party.

This marks James's latest venture into children's literature, following his debut as an author in 2020 with "I Promise," illustrated by Niña Mata. He continued this partnership with the 2024 release of "I Am More Than" and expanded into middle-grade fiction in 2021 with "We Are Family," co-authored with Andrea Williams.

Currently, James is sidelined from basketball due to sciatica in his right side and has not yet made his debut for the 2025-26 NBA season. Upon his return to the Lakers, he is anticipated to become the first player in NBA history to compete in a 23rd season.