Entertainment

Children's Author to Tackle Santa, Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy

By CBSNews.com CBSNews.com

January 31, 2011 / 12:43 PM EST / CBS News

LOS ANGELES - MARCH 25: Actress Angela Bassett (L) and author William Joyce talk at the afterparty for the premiere of Disney's 'Meet The Robinsons' at the El Capitan Theater on March 25, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) — Author William Joyce, right, talks to actress Angela Bassett at the remiere of Disney's "Meet The Robinsons" March 25, 2007, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) A "Toy Story" writer is ready to tell kids the truth about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. At least, the early years.

Award-winning author and filmmaker William Joyce is working on a new series of picture books and chapter books. In "The Guardians of Childhood," readers learn the "formative stories of childhood legends," Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing announced Monday.

The first two books come out in the fall.

Joyce, who has won three Emmys, has written and illustrated more than 50 children's books and has created characters for "Toy Story," " A Bug's Life" and other Disney films. He also is known for such books as "George Shrinks" and "Santa Calls." He is co-directing "Rise of the Guardians," based on his new series and scheduled to be released by DreamWorks Animation in 2012.