Kenan Thompson has ventured into the world of children’s literature with his latest project, “Unfunny Bunny,” a delightful tale that explores themes of self-discovery and authenticity.

The story revolves around a bunny who aspires to be the funniest student in the class. Along the journey, the character learns a valuable lesson: being true to oneself is far more impactful than putting on a facade.

In a recent conversation with Tamron Hall, Thompson revealed that his inspiration for the book came from his two daughters.

“I’m passionate about creating content for kids, things that they can embrace and share with their friends,” Thompson explained. “This project was always close to my heart. I dedicated the book to my daughters, keeping them in mind throughout the process.”

Thompson noted that his daughters resonated with the book’s message, especially since they found it challenging to connect with his memoir.

He said his daughters immediately connected with the book, especially after struggling to relate to his memoir.

“They were actually really excited, because it’s something they can really relate to,” he said. “I did my memoir and they were like, ‘There’s too many and there’s no pictures in it. There’s too many words.’”

The conversation later turned to parenthood and the ways it has shaped him. Asked what has been most humbling, Thompson answered, “All of it. From moment one. You go from not being a parent to being a parent. It’s different for women because you carry it for nine months, but when it arrives for us, it’s like, “Oh snap. This wasn’t the case for me yesterday.”

“Now we have this thing, and we have to take care of it and watch it grow,” he added.

When Tamron teased him for repeatedly referring to children as a “thing”, Thompson laughed and clarified, “That little — it’s a thing until it starts to talk.”

Patience, he said, is nonnegotiable. “Absolutely. Otherwise you’d drive yourself crazy. You have to repeat yourself fifty times just to make sure you’re heard once. Fifty and one. That’s the ratio.”

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He said he’s usually a gentle parent, but he knows when to be firm.

“I want them to take me seriously, but I do a lot of humor.”

As both a father and storyteller, Thompson hopes Unfunny Bunny encourages kids to build friendships and confidence beyond screens. “Different times now. They have information in the palm of their hand, but I want them to learn how to navigate the world without a machine, person to person.”