LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2026, 15:10 (PDT)
- Goldie Hawn, 80, is out with her first children’s book, The After-School Kindness Crew: Pooch on the Loose #1, set to hit shelves May 5 via Penguin Workshop.
- Hawn’s book builds on MindUP, the youth mental- health initiative she launched over twenty years ago.
- Hawn, in a fresh interview, laid out why her 43-year partnership with Kurt Russell continues to thrive.
Goldie Hawn is taking her mental-health initiative into publishing, rolling out a children’s book series—her first title arrives next week. A fresh cover interview also brings renewed focus to her family dynamic and her relationship with Kurt Russell.
Timing comes into play here: The After-School Kindness Crew: Pooch on the Loose #1 lands on shelves May 5, marking a new platform for Hawn to bring her MindUP school initiatives past screen and stage. Penguin Random House, which is handling the release, currently lists this as the first of two slated titles. Both hardcover and paperback versions will clock in at 160 pages.
Hawn told People she wanted the book to share ideas on kindness and emotional self-control, just not in a way that feels like a how-to guide. Social-emotional learning—those classroom lessons on emotions, choices, and getting along—is baked into the narrative, but Hawn insisted the priority is humor.
Co-authored by Lin Oliver and illustrated by Breanna Chambers, the book centers on Mia, River, and Tony, three fourth graders who bond over their effort to help a shelter dog. Hawn points to the stories’ focus on nurturing “empathetic behavior,” telling People.com, “empathy can be taught.” People
Goldie Hawn started MindUP following the Sept. 11 attacks, People reports, driven by worries about rising anxiety, depression and suicide rates among youth. The program centers on “brain breaks”—just a quick pause to sit up, slow your breathing, let your thoughts drift by. “A sad child can’t learn. An angry child can’t learn,” Hawn told the magazine. People
Interest in the Oscar-winning actor’s private life shows no sign of fading. Hawn and Russell have been a couple for 43 years, with Hawn telling People she treasures the “freedom” in their relationship. Fox News, which picked up the interview, ran her comments about not feeling “penned in” and described the pair as the “right match”—even, she noted, when opinions clash. Fox News
Hawn and Russell count Oliver Hudson, Kate Hudson, Wyatt Russell, and Boston Russell among their blended family, plus eight grandkids, according to People. Hawn mentioned that her granddaughter Rio, age 12, got through the first book ahead of the crowd and said she found it funny—short feedback, but spot on for a title pitched to kids, not just parents chasing nostalgia.
Competition in this space is stiff. Celebrity kids’ books can grab headlines quickly, but there’s not much room for error—Oliver grounds the project with classic publishing chops. According to Penguin Random House, Oliver co-authored the Hank Zipzer series with Henry Winkler, a New York Times bestseller that has moved more than 4 million copies.
Back in November, Publishers Weekly reported the series was picked up for world rights across all languages, with Renee Kelly and Tyiana Combs handling the edits. At the time, Oliver pointed to MindUP’s emphasis on self-awareness, empathy, and kindness. Hawn, for her part, said she wanted these stories to help children “laughter and calm,” while also reminding them to be kind. Publishersweekly
Still, there’s risk baked into the launch. Celebrity branding gets attention, but it doesn’t lock in loyal readers, school sales, or glowing reviews. Kirkus described the debut as “earnest, lighthearted, and fun,” though the review flagged the plot for dragging under heavy description and mindfulness talk. Kirkus Reviews
Hawn doesn’t see the book as a comeback—just a new direction. Speaking with People, she said she’s entered a different phase, prioritizing family and MindUP over chasing movie roles. She mentioned she’s got three more books in the works, with one focused on a talent show.
