ATLANTA -- Georgia's First Lady, a former NFL player from the Peach State, and the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning together announced the release of a new children's book Tuesday morning.
First Lady Marty Kemp along with Georgia native and former New England Patriots player Malcolm Mitchell worked together for a year to create "Hey Georgia."
The book celebrates the Peach State, reading, and the work that Marty Kemp has done to advocate for literacy as First Lady of Georgia.
At the ceremony at the State Capitol, Gov. Brian Kemp, First Lady Kemp, and Mitchell read "Hey Georgia" to two Pre-K classes from Heards Ferry Elementary School in Fulton County.
"When we decided to come together to create a story for students, we agreed that it should be encouraging and a great representation of what Georgia has to offer. I hope 'Hey Georgia' encourages students to find a love for reading and understand Georgia is a place where they can make their dreams come true," said Mitchell.
The reading was also attended by DECAL Commissioner Amy Jacobs.
Mitchell has a foundation, "Read With Malcolm," that focuses on literacy for children.
"I am so thankful to Malcolm Mitchell for collaborating with me and for writing this book for Georgia students. When we first started talking about this project, Malcolm and I kept coming back to something we are both proud of for inspiration – spending college Saturday’s 'Between the Hedges'," said First Lady Marty Kemp. "While in college, Malcolm played for the University of Georgia's football team, and I had the honor of being a cheerleader for our flagship University. One of the things I loved most about cheerleading was the selflessness of the sport. At its root, it is about championing others and energizing a crowd to see what is special about your team. As First Lady, my job is similar in a lot of ways, and I can say, without question, that I have the very best responsibility and team to celebrate: the great State of Georgia! We hope this book educates young learners about everything their state has to offer and brings the magic of reading, joy, and happiness to classrooms and homes all across Georgia."