George Lopez writing 'fantastical' middle-grade book series

NEW YORK -- Author, playwright and longtime champion of multiculturalism Ishmael Reed is receiving a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to literature.Reed is among this year's winners of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, given for work that “confronts racism and explores diversity," the Cleveland Foundation announced Tuesday. Percival Everett's novel “The Trees” won for fiction and Donika Kelly's “The Renunciations” was cited for poetry.

Britney Spears is writing an autobiography and it is bringing back memories.

Jenna Bush Hager has an exciting month ahead, and it's all to do with something she's been working on with her twin sister, Barbara Bush.MORE: Hoda Kotb left stunned by Jenna Bush Hager's spectacular on-air appearanceThe Today star and Barbara are preparing for the release of their children's book, The Superpower Sisterhood, and over the weekend Jenna received an exciting delivery in the post.The mom-of-three took to Instagram to share footage of herself unboxing the finished copies of the book from her stylish living room in New York.VIDEO: Jenna Bush Hager receives an exciting delivery in the post "Look what just arrived... finished copies! Preorder our new picture book, The Superpower Sisterhood! Available April 19th - link in bio," she wrote.MORE: Hoda Kotb shares sweet tribute to Jenna Bush Hager following career milestoneMORE: Hoda Kotb opens up about her childhood in revealing chat with Amy SchumerFans were quick to congratulate the star, with one writing: "Congratulations, can't wait to read this!" while another wrote: "We can't wait to get our hands on a copy!" A third added: "Massive congratulations!"Jenna and Barbara are no strangers to writing books together and their novel Sisters First was a New York Times Number One Bestseller.

EXCLUSIVE: Red Notice actor Chris Diamantopoulos has joined MGM-Spyglass Media Group-Smoke House Pictures’ George Clooney-directed movie The Boys in the Boat. 

In an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” George Stephanopoulos asked Klain point blank whether President Biden is “confident” that his son “didn’t break the law,” to which Klain gave an unequivocal yes. “Of course, the president’s confident this his son didn’t break the law,” Klain said. “But most importantly, as I said, that’s a matter that’s going to be decided by the Justice Department, by the legal process, and something no one at the White House has any involvement in.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez know how important family time is. The couple spent their Tuesday together at a batting cage in Sherman Oaks, California, with JLo’s daughter Emme Muñiz, whom she shares with Marc Anthony. The 14-year old showed off her batting form ready to swing, while Bennifer looked happy in love, with Affleck embracing JLo with forehead kisses.Emme first showed her baseball skills back in 2020 during quarantine, as she played with JLo, Alex Rodriguez, and his daughters Ella and Natasha. It looks like she has only improved since then thanks to batting practice.

Apple announced on Wednesday that Jemima Kirke of Netflix’s “Sex Education,” and HBO’s “Girls”, and Nico Tortorella of Hulu’s “Younger,” and AMC’s “The Walking Dead: World Beyond,” have joined the cast of its limited series “City on Fire” from “Gossip Girl” duo Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.Ashley Zukerman, Xavier Clyde, Max Milner, Alexandra Doke, Omid Abtahi, Kathleen Munroe and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” star John Cameron Mitchell have also been added as series regulars.They join already announced cast Chase Sui Wonders as a murdered NYU student and Wyatt Oleff as her friend who stops at nothing to solve her death.Kirke plays Regan, the daughter of a Manhattan real estate scion who strives to succeed on her own; Tortorella is William, a brilliant, but self-destructive artist living in Manhattan; Zukerman is Keith, Regan’s husband; Clyde is Mercer, William’s boyfriend who moved to New York from rural Georgia to write the next great American novel. Musician Milner is Nicky Chaos, a charismatic activist and revolutionary with a group of followers who wage war against the 1%; Doke is Sewer Girl, who’s part of Nicky Chaos’ crew; Abtahi is Detective Ali Parsa, the workaholic detective assigned to Samantha’s case; Munroe is Detective PJ McFadden, a no-nonsense cop working the case alongside Detective Parsa, and Mitchell is Amory, an influential and ruthless executive in Manhattan.The Apple Studios murder mystery is based on the novel of the same name by Garth Risk Hallberg, and set in 2003 while police are also trying to catch a serial arsonist.Principal photography is underway in New York City.“City on Fire” is produced by Apple Studios for Apple TV+.

Jemima Kirke (Sex Education), Nico Tortorella (Younger), Ashley Zukerman (The Lost Symbol), Xavier Clyde (Hard), Max Milner (The Dirt), Alexandra Doke (Grey’s Anatomy), Omid Abtahi (The Mandalorian), Kathleen Munroe (FBI) and John Cameron Mitchell (Joe vs. Carol) round out the ensemble cast for Apple TV+’s upcoming drama series City on Fire. They join previously announced Chase Sui Wonders and Wyatt Oleff, who star in the series inspired by Garth Risk Hallberg’s novel of the same name, from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Production is underway in New York City.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBlue Note New York has announced the 11th Annual Sony Presents Blue Note Jazz Festival. The festival kicks off on June 1 with a free show in Washington Square Park headlined by Robert Glasper — who performed on the Oscars Sunday night — in association with Washington Square Park Conservancy.Taking place at major venues across New York City, including Blue Note New York, Sony Hall, The Town Hall, and SummerStage in Central Park, this year’s festival features performances from George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Chris Botti, Charles Lloyd, Macy Gray, Kenny G, Al Di Meola, Madeleine Peyroux, Dave Holland & Kenny Barron, Robert Cray, Kenny Garrett, José James, Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott), Bilal, DOMi & JD Beck, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Theo Croker and so many more legends, with a major headliner announcement on April 26.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Good Girls star Mae Whitman has been tapped as the female lead in Up Here, Hulu’s musical romantic comedy series from Tick, Tick… Boom! and Dear Evan Hansen writer Steven Levenson, The Carmichael Show‘s Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, Hamilton director Thomas Kail; and the Frozen and WandaVision songwriting duo of Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

NEW YORK -- The Israeli historian, philosopher and million-selling author Yuval Noah Harari has begun work on a planned four-volume middle grade series on a favorite subject: the history of humankind.Penguin Random House announced Wednesday that the first volume of his “Unstoppable Us” series, subtitled “How Humans Took Over the World,” will come out worldwide Oct. 18.

NEW YORK -- A picture-book edition of a bestseller co-authored by the Nobel Peace Prize winners the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be published this fall.Random House Children’s Books announced Tuesday that “The Little Book of Joy” will come out Sept. 27, with Rachel Neumann and Douglas Abrams collaborating on the text, and illustrations provided by artist Rafael López.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have proved just how serious their relationship is after reportedly splashing out $55million on a new home together.RELATED: Jennifer Lopez's $97million property portfolio is out of this worldThe couple, who reconciled in 2021 almost 20 years after they first dated, are investing in an incredible property in the star-studded neighbourhood of Bel-Air, where Jennifer already has a $28million home nearby.WATCH: Jennifer Lopez gives tour inside incredible New York homeThe 1.2 acre estate has plenty to offer Jennifer, Ben and their blended families, including ten bedrooms and 17 bathrooms spread across nearly 20,000 square feet of living space.The three-level home has all the amenities you would expect from an A-list property, such as a movie theatre, wine cellar and gym, along with a private security suite for a full-time bodyguard.MORE: Inside Jennifer Lopez's huge kitchen in Bel-Air mansionOutside, there is an infinity pool, a putting green and pristine gardens, complete with a full outdoor kitchen and BBQ area, and a guest house. In short, it's easy to see why the couple are so keen to snap it up.

NEW YORK -- Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri has a memoir coming out this fall in which she will recount her personal struggles, years of activism and her decision to run for office in 2020, when she became the first Black woman from her state elected to Congress.Publisher Alfred A.

Just like the old days! While Ben Affleck notably played his real-life partner’s love interest in her 2009 “Jenny From the Block” music video, he took a more low-key approach two decades later.

Jennifer Lopez shared a rare picture with them and now the internet is very interested in the superstars siblings. Jennifer took to Instagram to celebrate the important women in her life and she posted a carousel of images posing with those women. The caption read, ‘ Happy #InternationalWomensDay!!! Each and every day I am inspired by so many talented, incredible and amazing women.