Barack Obama Joins Ranks of Famous Children's Book Authors

NEW YORK (CBS) President Barack Obama's upcoming children's book, "Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters," is a hit with book buyers, even though it won't be released for two months.

But the president isn't the only "big" name to write a book for children.

Here are a few others:

Pictures: Children's Books by Celebrities

-Jamie Lee Curtis has nine children's books to her name. The most recent, "My Mommy Hung the Moon: A Love Story," was released on Sept. 7.

-Madonna's "English Roses" series published its 12th and final installment in 2009.

-Julianne Moore has penned two books on her redheaded alter-ego, "Freckleface Strawberry."

-John Lithgow has also written many children's books. The most recent, "Marsupial Sue," was published last year.

-Michael Phelps put his Olympic workouts leading up to the 2008 Olympics into context for kids in "How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals."

-Whoopi Goldberg released the third book in her "Sugar Plum Ballerinas" series in January 2010.

-Brooke Shields wrote "Welcome to Your World, Baby," about the joys of becoming a big sister, in 2008.