The Magician's Hat

By Malcolm Mitchell and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

A magician introduces children to the fantastical powers of books in this delightful and encouraging read by a Super Bowl champion and literacy crusader.

This is not your typical afternoon at the library—a magician invites kids to reach into his hat to pull out whatever they find when they dig down deep. Soon—poof!—each child comes away with something better than they could’ve imagined—a book that helps them become whatever they want to be, and makes their dreams come true through pages and words, and the adventures that follow. But each child can’t help but wonder, What’s really making the magic happen?

Praise for The Magician’s Hat

“Malcolm Mitchell is changing the world through the power of reading.” —Dav Pilkey, bestselling creator of the Dog Man and Captain Underpants series

“The Magician’s Hat will cast its spell on you!” —Jeff Kinney, bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series

“New England Patriot and literacy advocate Mitchell proves to have a touch of magic as an author as well as on the field . . . Perhaps youngsters who think they are more interested in football than reading will take the message to heart.” —Kirkus Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Feb 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781338276978

Reviews for The Magician's Hat

[librarianryan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If I had the money, every library on the planet would have a copy of this book. This book is an ode to libraries and the magic that can be found within the pages of books. It matters not what you want to do or be, it can be found in the pages of a book. Simply perfect story for librarians and book nerds alike.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Magician's Hat, illustrated by Joanne Lew-VriethoffWhen a magician turns up at their library's Family Fun Day, a group of children is entranced by his magic tricks. Then he tells them the tale of his own youthful adventure at the library, during which he discovered a book on magic, and through it, his calling in life. Letting each child reach into his wondrous hat, he dispenses books that perform that same function for them: giving them inspiration in picking the road ahead...Originally published in 2015 by Read With Malcolm Inc., the foundation that author and football player Malcolm Mitchell started in order to promote literacy, The Magician's Hat was originally illustrated by Dennis Campay. This new 2018 edition from Scholastic is illustrated by the Dutch artist Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. I enjoyed the story here, applaud the purpose of the book - to demonstrate the magic of books, and of libraries! - and appreciated the bright, colorful artwork. I particularly liked the two-page spread, meant to be looked at vertically, of the magician with his hat, magic swirling inside it. Recommended to all young would-be magicians, and to anyone looking for children's stories about why reading and books are so important.