There’s a new children’s book out about Georgia and it was inspired by Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp and written by former NFL and UGA wide receiver Malcom Mitchell.
The book, titled “Hey Georgia,” was unveiled today at a joint event with the governor’s office and the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning.
“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.”
Two Georgia Pre-K classes from Heards Ferry Elementary School in Fulton County got a preview of the book this morning at the State Capitol as it was read personally by Governor Brian Kemp, the First Lady, and Mitchell.
“First Lady Marty Kemp’s passion for Georgia is inspiring,” Mitchell said. “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.”
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Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.