Former UGA star teams up with first lady Marty Kemp for new children’s book for pre-K students

ATLANTA — A former University of Georgia football star and Super Bowl winner is teaming up with Georgia’s first lady for a new children’s book.

Malcolm Mitchell recently published “A Magnificent Field Trip to the Governor’s Mansion,” which teaches pre-K children about the governor’s mansion.

In the book, the students travel to the Governor’s Mansion in Atlanta, where they get to meet Georgia’s first family, their pets and other animals and insects you can see on the mansion’s nature trail.

On Wednesday morning, Mitchell, Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp and DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs read the book to a group of pre-K students.

They also gave the students the same tour as described in Mitchell’s book.

“Sometimes when you’re growing up, the only things that you see are what your neighborhood offers,” Mitchell said. “Books expose you to more information and new realities and in turn you begin to hope and dream of things that you may not see every day, and that’s what I call the magic.”

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The book will be part of the curriculum for Georgia’s pre-K program, which is funded entirely by the state lottery. The state started it back in 1993 and today, it now helps more than 72,000 students.

The state program previously selected Mitchell’s first book “Hey, Georgia,” which was inspired by the first lady.

“When I became the First Lady of Georgia, I wanted to update the Governor’s Mansion in hopes that it would truly be ‘Georgia Grown’ and showcase all that makes our state such a great place to call home,” Kemp said. “Those changes include updates to engage children and families. It is always an honor to welcome you to the People’s House.”

TRENDING STORIES:

• Georgia appeals court to look at ruling that allowed DA Fani Willis to stay on election case
• Killer Mike talking to Atlanta students about guns, gangs and violence
• Mary Mac’s Tea Room reopening 2 months after roof collapse

Mitchell played for the Georgia Bulldogs football team from 2011 to 2015 and the New England Patriots drafted him in 2016. He won Super Bowl LI with the Patriots before he retired.

Since his graduation from UGA, Mitchell has been an open book about his personal struggle with literacy. He created “Share the Magic Foundation,” a nonprofit that focuses on growing young readers in underserved communities.

“Growing up I wasn’t an avid reader. I excelled in sports but being a good athlete isn’t being the best person you can possibly be,” Mitchell previously told Channel 2 Action News.

“When I began to read the world opened up. It helped me expand and be an overall better person,” he said.

Each summer, Mitchell and Share the Magic Foundation hosts a free summer reading camp. You can find more information on how to sign up here.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Metro Atlanta Jamaican restaurant destroyed by fire gets helping hand from popular chicken chain

©2023 Cox Media Group