Ben Okon

As a children’s book author, Ben Okon has the second-best job in the world. And he found it by accident.

Ben’s first child was born in the midst of COVID-19, at the same time that his grandmother Gigi, a retired writing teacher, became isolated. With no way for Gigi and his baby to meet, Ben helped them connect over videos, where they enjoyed reading children’s books together.

This simple experience sparked an obsession: using the power of storytelling to share special moments across generations. Ben’s stories are filled with humor, heart, and self-discovery and are as varied as the readers who enjoy them. They include unexpected wordplay, interwoven games, cross-generational humor, and subtle (or not-so-subtle) tips and tricks about life. But they are all bound by one common theme: a unique style that gives everyone--of every age--something to learn, love, or laugh about.

Ben has now published dozens of children’s books, including award winners and bestsellers, across multiple series such as King Chameleon, Younger Me Academy, Mythical Feasts, and Mo’s Emotions.

So what’s the best job in the world, you ask? Ben has that one too. He’s the dad to two rambunctious boys and husband to an amazing wife.

He’s had a bunch of other cool jobs as well. He helped raise seeing-eye dogs for a while and got paid once or twice for juggling. He worked in restaurants, parked cars, and tinkered with strategies for companies like Google (he’s still enjoying this one, too!). But those are all stories for another day.