Digital Safety Expert Chris McKenna Partners with Zondervan, Debut Release Anticipated June 2026
The founder of Protect Young Eyes, an organization equipping families to protect kids online, Chris McKenna has signed a multi-book deal with Zondervan. McKenna’s partnership with Zondervan includes the release of one adult trade, scheduled for June 2026, followed by two children’s books.
McKenna is a respected digital safety voice, creating practical resources for families and schools. At a time when parents often feel unprepared to prepare and protect their children online with the right tools and words, McKenna’s adult trade book will equip parents to feel confident guiding their child through the online world with a framework to tame the tech and reclaim family. This essential book will teach parents five practical habits that wrap children in protection, build Digital Trust, and unlock digital parenting superpowers.
“Parents are looking for an expert voice who can provide both a framework for understanding the benefits and problems tech offers and who can offer specific steps to take to protect children and families” said Webster Younce, Zondervan Books’ Vice President and Executive Editor. “Chris McKenna is that voice, and we are thrilled to partner with him to provide families with the resources they are looking for.”
McKenna’s impactful 2019 testimony before the U.S. Senate initiated a series of hearings to further online child protection policy. Protect Young Eyes, won the 2020 Dignity Defense Award from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and the 2024 Child Safety Award from The Phase Alliance. He is a technical advisor to AngelQ AI and works closely with digital safety advocates and legislators to craft policies that reign in abusive technologies. As a representative of the Human Change Movement, McKenna spoke at the 2024 and 2025 World Economic Forum.
“Partnering with Zondervan is taking the mission of Protect Young Eyes even closer into the hands of families looking to prevent online exploitation,” says McKenna. “The upcoming books will provide accessible tools, tips and guidance for kids and caregivers to provide a comfortable environment to discuss digital safety.”
McKenna’s children’s titles are anticipated to release in the summer of 2027. A picture book for ages 4-8 and a book for ages 8-12 will focus on introducing young readers to the topic of digital safety and give children and their caregivers practical tools and strategies for navigating the technological landscape.
“These books will be a tremendous resource for both kids and caregivers,” said Katherine Easter, Acquisitions Editor for Zonderkidz. “Chris’s immense expertise and accessible approach make him the perfect person to speak into this incredibly important topic.”
McKenna is represented by Tom Dean of A Drop of Ink Literary based in Grand Rapids, Mich.
