NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 24, 2026--
Tommy Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, announced today a new middle grade fiction series from internet icons and leading sports entertainment company, Dude Perfect, known for their viral trick shots, epic battles, and wide-ranging family entertainment. Aimed at readers ages 8-12, the Dude Perfect + Panda series brings the beloved Dude Perfect personalities to middle school for new adventures featuring tricks, flips, fist bumps, and more. The first book in the series, titled Operation Trick Shot (ISBN: 9781400217106), releases May 12, 2026, with a follow-up planned for September 2026.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260224376866/en/
Cory Cotton, Coby Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, Cody Jones, and Tyler Toney—former college roommates at Texas A&M University—founded Dude Perfect, which has grown into a leading entertainment company producing premium, family-friendly content across digital, live, publishing, and theatrical platforms. Over 17 years, the Dudes have built a global franchise reaching more than 115 million fans by creating experiences that bring families together to watch, play, and explore both on and off screen, from sold-out arena tours like Dude Perfect: The Hero Tour, to their bestselling books, Dude Perfect: 101 Tricks, Tips, and Cool Stuff and Good Night, Dude Perfect.
Each book in the Dude Perfect + Panda series features the Dudes embarking on global sports-related mysteries and adventures where they believe they're saving the day through their special talents. They are unaware that, behind the scenes, their trusty sidekick Panda is helping them succeed. With loads of clean humor, deep friendship, and plenty of sports action, this series kicks off with the five best friends stepping in to save their local gym from a mysterious businessman who wants to close all the free gyms in town.
“Creating epic stories together has always been at the heart of what we do, and this series lets us expand the Dude Perfect universe in a new direction,” said Dude Perfect member Cory Cotton. “For a lot of us, that started with reading, especially mystery books that kept us curious as kids. This series is built around the same values our fans love—fun, teamwork, and imagination—just told through an all-new adventure that kids and families can enjoy together. We know our fans and their families trust us for high-quality, family-friendly entertainment, and we’re excited to deliver that now to readers.”
Featuring bold, comic-style illustrations in each chapter, Operation Trick Shot combines sports, mystery, clean humor, and old-fashioned teamwork in a fast-paced, entertaining story for middle grade readers, while also sharing real-world guidance for navigating sticky situations.
“This next step in our publishing partnership with Dude Perfect is very exciting and offers the best of Dude Perfect’s appeal—sports, hilarity, adventure, friendship—in the pages of a chapter book ideal for their fan base,” said Tommy Nelson publisher Shannon Marchese. “ Operation Trick Shot is the first entry in the Dude Perfect + Panda series, and we can’t wait for kids to fall for these books.”
Members of Dude Perfect will celebrate the upcoming publication of Operation Trick Shot at a TalkShopLive pre-sale event LIVE at 6:00pm EST on Monday, March 9. Attendees who purchase a copy of the book during the TalkShopLive event will receive a signed book. For more information, visit talkshop.live/channels/dudeperfect.
For more information, or to receive a review copy of Operation Trick Shot, contact Sarah Van Cleve, Publicity Manager, at sarah.vancleve@harpercollins.com.
For more info and assets about Dude Perfect, see here:
About Dude Perfect: Dude Perfect is the leading creator-led entertainment company focused on family-friendly sports and lifestyle content. Founded in 2009 by five college friends—Tyler Toney, Cory Cotton, Coby Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, and Cody Jones—making sports trickshot videos, Dude Perfect’s YouTube channel has become the biggest sports account on YouTube with more than 60 million subscribers. The group has garnered more than 18 billion views across platforms, and has featured celebrities and athletes like Steph Curry, Serena Williams, Luka Doncic, Caitlin Clark, and CeeDee Lamb. Dallas-based Dude Perfect has since expanded into a diversified media business across video content, popular simulcasts for professional sports like the NFL on Amazon, a best-selling toy in Walmart, and live tours.
About Tommy Nelson: Tommy Nelson® is the children’s division of Thomas Nelson. As a leading provider of Christian content, Tommy Nelson publishes a wide variety of high-quality, enjoyable products that are consistent with the teachings found in the Bible. Tommy Nelson’s award-winning products are designed to expand children’s imaginations and nurture their faith while inspiring them to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. For more information, visit www.tommynelson.com.
Tommy Nelson announces new fiction series from Global Entertainment Stars Dude Perfect
LONDON (AP) — The British government will release confidential papers related to the former Prince Andrew’s appointment as trade envoy after a scathing parliamentary debate in which lawmakers called for greater accountability from the royal family and said the king’s brother had put his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein ahead of his duty to the country.
Lawmakers approved a motion Tuesday demanding publication of the documents, after the one-time prince and Duke of York, now known simply as Andrew Windsor-Mountbatten, was arrested on charges related to allegations that he shared government reports with Epstein while he was trade envoy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government backed the motion, assuring its passage.
“Frankly, it is the least we owe the victims of the horrific abuse that was perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein and others, the abuse that was enabled, aided and abetted by a very extensive group of arrogant, entitled and often wealthy individuals in this country and elsewhere,” Trade Minister Chris Bryant said for the government.
He described Mountbatten-Windsor as being engaged in a constant "self-enriching hustle'' — a "rude, arrogant and entitled man who could not distinguish between the public interest, which he said he served, and his own private interest.''
While the government agreed to release the files, Bryant said the publication of some documents may be delayed until police finish their investigation.
The move co mes as the U.S. Justice Department’s release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein exposes how the wealthy financier used an international web of rich, powerful friends to gain influence and sexually exploit young women. Nowhere has the fallout been felt more strongly than in the U.K., where the scandal has raised questions about the way power is wielded by the aristocracy, senior politicians and influential businessmen, known collectively as “the Establishment.”
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday at his home on the private estate of his brother King Charles III. He was released later that day pending further investigation.
Then on Monday p olice arrested Peter Mandelson, a one-time government minister who later served as ambassador to the United States, on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to allegations that he, too, shared confidential information with Epstein. Mandelson was released early Tuesday morning. That investigation is also continuing.
While they haven’t spoken publicly since their arrests, both Mountbatten-Windsor and Mandelson have previously denied any wrongdoing. Epstein died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Ed Davey, the leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, said he introduced the motion to shed light on why Mountbatten-Windsor was named trade envoy in 2001 amid reports that Mandelson pushed for the appointment. The episode appears to be a case of one friend of Epstein lobbying for a job for another friend of Epstein, he said.
“Can there be many people more symbolic of the rot that eats away at the British establishment than the former Duke of York and special trade envoy, and the former business secretary, first secretary of state and ambassador to the United States?” Davey asked.
“Their association with Epstein and their actions on his behalf, while trusted with the privilege of public office, are a stain on our country,” he added.
During the debate, lawmakers called for greater accountability from the monarchy and a change in the rules and traditions of the House of Commons, which have historically barred members of Parliament from criticizing members of the royal family.
Davey said such changes would help shield the monarchy from the kind of fallout it has suffered because of Mountbatten-Windsor.
“The changes that we think are necessary would indeed protect the royal family, strengthen the monarchy, which in some places is being criticized,” Davey said. “And that’s why we need these reforms.”
For the House of Windsor, Tuesday’s debate was a reflection of a crisis that shows no sign of abating.
Buckingham Palace has tried to insulate the monarchy from the scandal by drawing a clear bold line between Mountbatten-Windsor and the rest of the royal family. In addition to removing his royal titles, Charles forced his brother to move out of the 30- room estate near Windsor Castle where he had lived rent free for more than 20 years.
But that may not be enough to quell the voices demanding change. The loudest of those comes from the campaign group Republic, which has long called for the monarchy to be replaced by an elected head of state.
While the U.K.’s constitutional monarchy no longer wields political power, it remains hugely influential at the apex of British society. The king is a symbol of continuity who serves as head of state for Britain and 14 other independent countries with ties to the former British Empire. Working members of the royal family support him by making hundreds of public appearances each year, visiting charities, military bases and community groups that still clamor for their attention.
Commentators have compared the pressures facing the House of Windsor to 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated the thrown to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
“Unlike the last significant family crisis of the modern monarchy, the abdication of 1936, this is not an immediate matter of constitutional crisis, yet its implications may well prove more significant for the monarchy, and so they should,’’ royal historian Anna Whitelock wrote this week in the Sunday Times newspaper. “It is the last of our public institutions to face the full glare of public scrutiny, with questions raised about its role, purpose, governance, financing and accountability.’’
FILE - Then-Prince Andrew arrives for the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in London, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (Jordan Pettitt/Pool Photo via AP, file)
