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Phil Rosenthal鈥檚 Latest Children鈥檚 Book Encourages Kids to ‘Just Try It!’

Published by Simon & Schuster, the book, which was published in March, encourages young readers to embrace new experiences, even when they seem a little scary at first.
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June 18, 2026

For years, Phil Rosenthal has spent his career urging viewers to try something new 鈥 whether it鈥檚 an unfamiliar dish in Bangkok, a hidden neighborhood restaurant in Las Vegas or a cultural tradition halfway around the world.

Now, the creator of 鈥淓verybody Loves Raymond鈥 and host of Netflix鈥檚 beloved travel series 鈥淪omebody Feed Phil鈥 is bringing that same philosophy to children.

Rosenthal and his daughter, Lily Rosenthal, recently released 鈥淛ust Try It! Someplace New!鈥 the second installment in their 鈥淧hil and Lil鈥 children鈥檚 book series. Published by Simon & Schuster, the book, which was published in March, encourages young readers to embrace new experiences, even when they seem a little scary at first.

It鈥檚 a follow-up to 2024鈥檚 鈥淛ust Try It!鈥 a semiautobiographical story about a food-loving dad, Phil, encouraging his picky eater daughter, Lil, to try new and unfamiliar bites at a food truck festival.

鈥淲e thought, what if the 鈥楯ust Try It鈥 idea was applied to different things in life?鈥 Rosenthal told The Journal of the latest entry. 鈥淥bviously, travel is a big part of my world, and I thought, what鈥檚 the first baby step of travel? Maybe going to Grandma鈥檚 house. So, it鈥檚 鈥楯ust Try It! Someplace New!鈥欌

The narrative follows a child nervous about visiting her grandmother, a relatable fear rooted in Rosenthal鈥檚 own family history. He recalled how his son once flew alone from Los Angeles to visit his grandparents in New York. 鈥淢y parents were late to the airport to pick him up,鈥 Rosenthal said with a laugh. 鈥淎fter one night with my parents, he was like, 鈥楥an I come home now?鈥欌

Fortunately, the book tells a much gentler version of the story.

The message, Rosenthal said, extends far beyond childhood. 鈥淗ow many adults do we know who don鈥檛 have an open mind?鈥 he said. 鈥淲ho don鈥檛 want to try new foods even, or new places or new ideas?鈥

The book builds on a theme that has become Rosenthal鈥檚 personal mantra. While he may not be scaling mountains or seeking danger in remote corners of the globe, he credits curiosity and a willingness to take small risks with shaping both his career and his life. 鈥淥ur biggest fear in life is the unknown,鈥 he said. 鈥淐hildren are afraid to walk the first time. They fall down, but they get back up and try again. That鈥檚 everything in life.鈥

That outlook also inspired 鈥淪omebody Feed Phil,鈥 which will be moving to YouTube for its forthcoming ninth season in 2027. Rosenthal jokes the haimishe culinary travel series, currently available on Netflix, was borne out of the realization that he isn鈥檛 the fearless adventurer that the late Anthony Bourdain was. 鈥淚 thought maybe there鈥檚 a show for people like me who sit on the couch and watch Bourdain and go, 鈥楬e鈥檚 amazing. I鈥檓 never doing that,鈥欌 Rosenthal said.

Yet years of travel have made him more adventurous. 鈥淚鈥檝e gotten a little braver over the years,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hy? Because I鈥檝e tried more things 鈥 and I didn鈥檛 die.鈥

The Rosenthals have already signed on for additional books in the 鈥淧hil and Lil鈥 series. Future topics could include making friends, sharing, getting a new sibling or even boarding an airplane for the first time. 鈥淓verything in life you have to try for the first time,鈥 Rosenthal said. 鈥溾橨ust try it鈥 is a very good attitude to have.鈥

Working with Lily has been one of the most rewarding parts of the project. 鈥淚t was her idea,鈥 Rosenthal said. 鈥淪he called me and said, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e good with kids on the show, and kids love the show. Why don鈥檛 you do a kids鈥 book?鈥 I said, 鈥榊eah, if you do it with me.鈥欌

Discerning readers may also spot a familiar comfort food tucked into the book鈥檚 colorful illustrations, which are the work of celebrated illustrator Luke Flowers.

鈥淎bsolutely,鈥 Rosenthal said when asked if the matzah ball soup depicted in the book was a nod to family tradition. The dish also appears on the menu at Rosenthal鈥檚 wildly popular Larchmont diner, Max and Helen鈥檚, named after his parents.

Since opening in November 2025, the diner has become one of the hottest reservations 鈥 or rather, non-reservations 鈥 in town. Weekend wait times have stretched for hours, generating headlines and a social media frenzy. 鈥淭here really were eight-hour waits,鈥 Rosenthal said. 鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 want people to get the wrong idea. Nobody鈥檚 standing in line for eight hours.鈥 Instead, guests add their names to a waitlist and receive a text when their table is ready. Rosenthal intentionally avoided a reservation system so neighborhood residents could still enjoy the restaurant. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a neighborhood diner,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 would hate to have it that the neighborhood couldn鈥檛 even benefit from it.鈥

For those intimidated by the crowds, Rosenthal offers a simple tip: visit during off-peak hours. 鈥滻f you come in-between breakfast and lunch, and in-between lunch and dinner hours, you can walk right in,鈥 he said.

The restaurant鈥檚 pedigree certainly helps explain its popularity. Acclaimed chef Nancy Silverton serves as executive chef, while Lily鈥檚 husband, Mason Royal, oversees the day-to-day operations. Among the offerings are Max鈥檚 fluffy eggs, inspired by his father鈥檚 favorite breakfast; a much-buzzed-about waffle with maple butter that the Los Angeles Times called the 鈥渄rive-across-town dish;鈥 and Helen鈥檚 Matzah Ball Soup, adapted from his mother鈥檚 鈥 Lily鈥檚 grandmother鈥檚 鈥 recipe.

Rosenthal admits Silverton improved upon the original. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very simple recipe that Nancy Silverton took and, I have to admit, made better,鈥 he said. 鈥淢om was not a chef, but she did make that very well.鈥 One secret ingredient? Fresh dill 鈥 so beloved by Rosenthal鈥檚 late mother that, he joked, 鈥渨e even buried her with a big sprig of dill.鈥

Despite juggling a hit television series, a children鈥檚 book franchise and a bustling restaurant, Rosenthal remains characteristically grateful. 鈥淭he secret is just do as much as you can with the time you have,鈥 he said. It鈥檚 a simple philosophy that sounds remarkably similar to the message at the heart of his and his daughter鈥檚 newest book: Be curious; take the first step; and when life offers something unfamiliar, 鈥淛ust try it!鈥

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