While I was waiting for “One More Thing” to come out, I would hang out with friends who had kids. If you get hooked on that, you’re really in trouble. The laughter of children is the most powerful drug of all. Nova k : If you’ve ever been a comedian, you have this addiction to laughter. I really do feel like I’m on a comedy tour.ĬNN: What made you decide to write a children’s book? There’s something about live comedy, where they’re practically elbowing each other, like “Did you hear that?” “Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” It really brings back my standup days to me, except it’s for 5-year-olds. And it’s like they’re in a comedy club, more than they’re being read a book. And most excitingly, I get to read the book to a super concentrated group of little kids. Nova k : The school events are the most exciting to me because generally, they’re assemblies where they bring all the kids, K through 3, in. Below is an edited transcript.ĬNN: How did you decide to bring kids on stage with you during your tour?ī.J. He spoke to CNN about his new book, his future plans and his tour, in which he lets his young fans share the spotlight with him. “Ideas for books, I have a million.”įor now, Novak is returning to his roots in standup comedy to promote “The Book with No Pictures.” His tour is taking him to a range of elementary schools across the country, including his alma mater, Mason Rice, in Newton, Massachusetts. He has plans for many more works of literature, which could include a collaboration with a former “Office” co-star and reported former flame: “There’s something I’d like to write with Mindy Kaling, a book of letters back and forth of our arguments,” Novak says. He also published a book of humorous short stories, “One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories,” in February. “The Book with No Pictures” is not Novak’s first foray into fiction. But it features silly sayings such as “My only friend in the whole wide world is a hippo named Boo-Boo Butt” and “My head is made of blueberry pizza,” designed to delight kids.

The 35-year-old actor is best known for writing, directing and producing episodes of the hit show “The Office.” As the title of his book suggests, “The Book with No Pictures” lacks illustrations. That gimmick, together with Novak’s celebrity status, has helped make “The Book with No Pictures” a bedtime story favorite for the elementary school set. But here’s the catch: It actually doesn’t have any pictures. Novak’s first children’s book tops the New York Times list of best-selling children’s picture books.

The book with no pictures words