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Ryan Cohen’s Children’s Books: The Story Behind Teddy
Quick answer: Ryan Cohen, the founder of Chewy and CEO of GameStop, wrote a children’s picture-book series called Teddy: ten illustrated hardcovers first published in 2022 by Teddy Publishing. The series is inspired by his father, Ted Cohen, a glassware importer who died in 2019, and follows Grandpa Teddy teaching his grandsons about saving, work, earning and friendship. All ten are in the Complete Collection ($109.99).
Quick answer: Ryan Cohen, the founder of Chewy and CEO of GameStop, wrote a children’s picture-book series called Teddy: ten illustrated hardcovers first published in 2022 by Teddy Publishing. The series is inspired by his father, Ted Cohen, a glassware importer who died in 2019, and follows Grandpa Teddy teaching his grandsons about saving, work, earning and friendship. All ten are in the Complete Collection ($109.99).
Many people discover the Teddy books the same way: they follow Ryan Cohen as an entrepreneur or a GameStop investor, and are surprised to learn he wrote for children. This is the story of how a tech founder ended up writing picture books, and what the books say about the lessons he values.
Disclosure: we run Caring Parents’ Choice, a small family store that sells the Teddy books. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Ryan Cohen, GameStop or Chewy. Biographical facts come from public sources; for a short bio, see Ryan Cohen and the Teddy books.
Timeline: from Chewy to GameStop to Teddy
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Born in Montreal, Canada |
| 2011 | Co-founds Chewy, the online pet retailer, at 25 |
| 2017 | Chewy is sold to PetSmart for $3.35 billion |
| 2019 | His father, Ted Cohen, passes away |
| 2021 | Joins GameStop’s board in January and becomes chairman in June |
| 2022 | The Teddy books are first published |
| 2023 | Becomes CEO of GameStop in September |
Who was Ted Cohen?
Ted Cohen was Ryan’s father, a businessman in the glassware import trade. Ryan Cohen has publicly credited him as his biggest influence: “My father, Ted Cohen, and his lessons have guided me throughout my life.” The Teddy books turn that relationship into stories: a grandfather passing practical wisdom down to the next generation.
The lessons in the books, and where they echo Cohen’s career
| Lesson in the books | Teddy title | The echo |
|---|---|---|
| Save before you spend | Teddy and the Piggy Banks | Cohen is known for a disciplined, long-term approach to money and investing |
| Work is where money comes from | Teddy Goes to Work | A founder who started building a business in his teens |
| Start something of your own | Teddy and the Corn Stand | The entrepreneur’s first lesson: make something people want |
| Respect the people who make things run | Teddy and the People Who Make the World Go Round | Chewy became famous for customer care |
| The world is bigger than your street | Teddy Goes to China | A nod to a family business in importing |
| Loyalty | Teddy and His Best Friend Jerry | Long relationships, in friendship and in business |
The “echo” column is our own reading of the themes, not a statement from Ryan Cohen.
Why GameStop and Chewy fans buy the series
- To share what they admire with their kids. The books turn the values fans talk about, patience, ownership and hard work, into bedtime stories.
- As a gift for fellow fans with young children, a niece or nephew, or a grandchild.
- As a keepsake: a complete hardcover set by a founder they follow.
Frequently asked questions
Did Ryan Cohen write a children’s book?
Yes, a series of ten: the Teddy books, first published in 2022.
What are Ryan Cohen’s children’s books called?
Each title starts with “Teddy,” for example Teddy and the Piggy Banks and Teddy Says Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees. See all 10 in order.
Who is Teddy in Ryan Cohen’s books?
Grandpa Teddy, a character inspired by Cohen’s father, Ted. He teaches his grandsons, Princeton and Kingston.
Is the GameStop CEO’s children’s book about money?
Partly. Four of the ten books are about money; the others are about friendship, feelings, work and responsibility.
Are you affiliated with Ryan Cohen or GameStop?
No. We are an independent family retailer selling new copies.
More: Teddy books review · where to buy
The Teddy sets
Give the whole set
Each volume is a boxed set of five illustrated hardcovers by Ryan Cohen, 32 pages each, for reading aloud with children about 3 to 8. One set covers a whole season of bedtime stories, and every set ships free in the US.
Volume 1 · 5 books
Saving, work, community helpers, a trip to China, words and feelings
$69.99
See the set →
Volume 2 · 5 books
Wants and needs, earning, friendship, a new puppy, chores before play
$69.99
See the set →
Complete Collection · 10 books
Both volumes: every Teddy story in one gift
$109.99
See the set →