Derek Taylor Kent is an author, screenwriter, performer and director based in Los Angeles. Best known for his children's books, his best-selling, award-winning titles are treasured in hundreds of thousands of homes across the world. He and his wife, author Sheri Fink (pictured to the left), are the founders of Whimsical World, an empowering children’s brand that publishes books and produces whimsical merchandise, inspiring entertainment, and magical experiences for children of all ages.

Derek is best known for his award-winning middle-grade series, SCARY SCHOOL (written under pen-name Derek the Ghost). It was published by HarperCollins and is one of the most popular book series for middle-readers ages 7 to 12. There are currently four books in this beloved series and remains a best-selling title. His newest middle-grade novel (ages 7-12) MY HOMEWORK ATE MY DOG! was released in April 2020 and won the Kopps-Featherling Book Award for Best Middle-Grade Fiction Book of 2020. His previous middle-grade novel, PRINCIPAL MIKEY, was released May 2018 and became a #1 best-seller on Amazon. It tells the story of a 10-year-old kid who becomes principal of his school.

His newest books include KA-BOOM! and THE MOOTANTS vs. THE UNSTOPPABLE MEGA-CHICKEN.

HYSTERICAL RHYMES AND HOW YOU CAN RHYME TOO! was released March 2022, and features hundreds of hilarious poems and lessons on how to write poetry. Recent picture book releases include: THE LEANING TOWER OF PIZZA (LOL Travel/History Book) , DINOSAUR DERBY (STEM Dinosaur/Racing Book) and THE GROSSEST PICTURE BOOK EVER.

Derek is also known for his series of bilingual English-Spanish picture books that have become some of the most popular in the world. EL PERRO CON SOMBRERO MEETS LOS GATOS CON GELATOS is the sequel to his #1 best-selling EL PERRO CON SOMBRERO (published by Holt/Macmillan). Both are based on his real dog, Zander, whose joy for life and constant hilarity inspire the stories. DOGGY CLAUS/PERRO NOEL was released November 2018 and tells the tale of Jingle (Santa's dog) who makes it his mission to find a home for every shelter dog on Christmas. The books teach Spanish and/or English to young readers and are staples in bilingual homes and dual immersion schools.

His first novel for an adult audience, KUBRICK'S GAME, was released through Evolved Publishing and quickly became an international bestseller and was one of the best-reviewed books of the year. It won the Reader's Favorite Award for Best Fiction Audiobook of 2017 (narrated by Jonathan Frakes and Yvette Nicole Brown) and won Best Film/TV book of the year from the National Independent Book Awards. 

Other books include the award-winning educational picture book SIMON AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM, THE WHIMSICAL WORLD COLORING BOOK, and COUNTING SEA LIFE WITH THE LITTLE SEAHORSE, which was co-written with his wife, Sheri.

Derek's screenplays have been optioned by Liberty Films (Warcraft, Source Code), The Donner Company (Goonies, Superman), and Radar Pictures (The Arrival, Jumanji). He also specializes in writing narrative scripts for Virtual Reality content. His VR sci-fi script EXIT TO REALITY won best screenplay at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and was nominated for best screenplay at Hollyshorts Films Festival, Red Flight Film Festival, and Reel Writers Screenplay Competition.

Explore this site to see more of Derek's exciting projects in the works, including feature films, musicals and web series. Derek's talents also extend to music, songwriting and production, which you can view and listen to in the Media section. Derek loves doing school visits and other book events. Please contact him to schedule his next appearance.