ATLANTA FEBRUARY 22, 2018 – March is National Reading Month – and just like he does on the field – New England Patriots Wide Receiver, Super Bowl Champion, Literacy Crusader and Author Malcolm Mitchell – is getting out ahead. Mitchell and Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic, have released a newly-illustrated and expanded edition of his children’s book, “The Magician’s Hat.”
To celebrate the book’s release and National Reading Month, Mitchell, in conjunction with his youth literacy initiative, Read With Malcolm and his non-profit organization, Share the Magic Foundation, have announced a week-long tour to “Share the Magic” of reading with thousands of children through school Reading Rallies, at family and community events, and book signings in multiple cities.
The mission of Mitchell’s Foundation is to transform the lives of students through literacy and to inspire young people to read by providing students access to books in under-resourced communities.
“I am very excited about my book’s launch and to have this platform to share the magic of reading with so many more children,” said Mitchell, who struggled with reading and self-esteem as a student. A life-changing experience, joining an adult women’s book club in college, launched his passion to help kids find a love for reading. “My mission is to be in every classroom – to reach every student that I can – and to let them know that there truly is magic inside of a book. I wholeheartedly believe that hopes and dreams can be realized by opening a book and reading. It happened to me; and I know it can happen to others.”
The “Share the Magic” Tour kicks off on Sunday February 25, with “The Magician’s Hat” Launch Party for children and families at Jeff Kinney’s An Unlikely Story Bookstore and Café in Plainville, MA. Kinney, the bestselling author of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, said about the book “Malcolm Mitchell’s mission is to inspire young readers. The Magician’s Hat will cast its spell on you.”
Over the course of the “Share the Magic” Tour, Mitchell will read his new book aloud with nearly 3,000 children from eight schools, their teachers and their families during his signature Reading Rally program to be held in Boston, New York City and Atlanta. These events feature a high-energy, enthusiastic and engaging pep-rally atmosphere – with a live magician – designed to celebrate reading, energize students and motivate them to make reading a priority.
Each child who participates in a “Read With Malcolm Reading Rally” will receive a copy of Mitchell’s book to keep. Since 2015, Mitchell has put more than 30,000 copies of the original, self-published edition in the hands of students. Through his Foundation, Mitchell aims to get the newly-illustrated and expanded edition of his book to tens of thousands of children across the country. Mitchell originally self-published “The Magician’s Hat” in 2015, while at The University of Georgia. In 2017, Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, acquired the rights to the book, and to two additional, original forthcoming books by Mitchell.
Immediately following the “Share the Magic Tour,” Mitchell will hit the road again, visiting schools, organizations and institutions, reading to children, speaking to parents and teachers, as part of his annual “Read Across Georgia” and “Read Across New England” programs, reaching an additional 6,000 students.
For a complete list of Mitchell’s appearances, public events and book signings during the “Share The Magic Tour,” visit Read With Malcolm’s official website: http://www.readwithmalcolm.com