The Magician's Nephew

by Malcolm Mitchell

Key Features Description Malcolm Mitchell is changing the world through the power of reading -Dave Pilkey Malcolm Mitchell's mission is to inspire young readers. The Magician's Hat will cast its spell on you - Jeff Kinney Malcolm Mitchell is changing the world through the power of reading -Dave Pilkey Malcolm Mitchell's mission is to inspire young readers. The Magician's Hat will cast its spell on you - Jeff Kinney Product Details Item #: NTS826893 9781338268935 Paperback Book 32 Pre-K - K Lexile AD550L Guided Reading GR Level K DRA 16 - 18 ACR 3.1 Key Features Item #: NTS826893 9781338268935 Paperback Book 32 Pre-K - K Lexile AD550L Guided Reading GR Level K DRA 16 - 18 ACR 3.1

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Magic, Fantasy, Storytime, Books About Books, Fiction

186 pages, Unknown Binding

First published August 1, 2015

About the author

Malcolm Mitchell (born July 20, 1993) is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Patriots in the 4th round (112th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia.

Mitchell was not a strong reader when he began college, then reading only at a junior high level, but he grew to love reading; even joining a woman's reading club and promoting literacy among youth. He is prouder of his reading accomplishments than of making it to the Super Bowl.

In 2016, Mitchell released his first book, The Magician's Hat. This children's picture book features David, the Magician, who loves to perform magic. David knows the magical power of books, which can explore dreams and develop creativity.

Reviews

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just last week I read Drew Jubera's Must Win: A Season of Survival for a Town and Its Team about the 2010 Valdosta High School football team. One of the players featured in the book is current New England Patriots' wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell. When Mitchell was in college, he realized that literacy as well as football was his key to achieving success in life. With the help of noted illustrator Dennis Cambray , Mitchell has written this short book for children and their parents encouraging them to utilize the resources in their local public library. By reading, kids can dream big and be whatever they want to be.

The story is geared toward easy readers as it is only 15 pages long; however, all proceeds go toward Mitchell's charity promoting children's literacy. Today, Mitchell goes to schools in the Boston area and speaks to children about the wonders of reading. While I loudly cheer all of the Patriots for their accomplishments on the field, I laud Mitchell for establishing a platform for literacy off of it. Reading is definitely magical, and it is great that Mitchell is offering his encouragement to kids in whatever ways big and small.

[NoNieqa Ramos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the text! Personal opinion alert: Loved the illustrations much less. I feel there were wasted opportunities here. The magician should have been African-American as the author, the true magician is African-American. I also felt disappointed that the African-American boy in this text wants to be a football player. The stereotype already exists that African-American boys all want to play sports, particularly football and basketball. Props to every African-American boy that is successful at sports, but right now my son needs to see images of African-American boys being scientists, TEACHERS, librarians. In fact, wouldn't it have been wonderful to see the A.A. boy dreaming of being a writer?

[Jim]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPLwQ... Malcolm's Book Club.


http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/n...

about the author. You might want to turn down the background music on the highlight video due to inappropriate language.

[Lindsey Gandhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great children's book to showcase the magic of reading and how it can change/influence your life. And while my blood runs orange on Saturdays, I'll support a Georgia Dawg author anyday! Great job Malcolm Mitchell!!!! We in Georgia are proud of you!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Magician's Hat, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

When 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.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story about the magic of libraries. The illustrations are a bit scribbley for my taste, but it's still an interesting story.

[Maddy Corson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Magicians Hat” by Malcolm Mitchel is a fantasy book written about a magician who visits a library to show all the children his magic tricks and have them pull books about what they want to be when they grow up out of his hat. This book promotes the idea that you can be whatever you want to be as long as you set your mind to it. The author starts by describing how the magician became a magician because he first read about it in a book and then worked hard at it. This book can help build confidence in young readers to help them set big goals for the future. Young readers can also take away from this book a greater appreciation for reading. The author centers this book around the idea that books are the passage way for growth and that you can do so much with reading. This book is a wow book for me because of its message. I love how much this book promotes reading and the way in which the author does so is very cute.
The author relied on the illustrations to help explain how books can bring things to life and transport you into another world. He also put key words in different colors than the rest of the text for emphasis. This book is as free from bias as possible because it represented many different kinds of people, different aspirations outside of what may be considered “stereotypical”, and the only topics of the book were positive ones with little controversy. There were little social, political, historical, and cultural contexts explicitly portrayed in the book, but the underlying message and themes of the book may help develop young readers into out future dentists, politicians, teachers, etc., which is very influential on the future of our social, political, historical, and cultural issues.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great new story about the magic of reading. Colorful, fun illustrations throughout. Kids will enjoy this one by a new author! I loved it! Will be offered on spring Scholastic Book Fair. Highly recommended for Grades K-5.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful message about the magic of books.

[Casandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books are magical. This one felt a little weird to me, but I appreciate the sentiment...

[Ciera (MB) Mobley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text - to - Self

I think this book is a great read for young readers. In this story, we see a magician pulling books out of his hat instead of rabbits. This book sheds lights to the importance of reading.

[Lily Bendickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Magician's Hat, a magician comes to Family Fun Day at the library. He gathers a crowd and shows them some magic tricks. They soon find out that those are just the beginning. He tells them a story about the magic of books, and the children find out one by one that books can take them whoever they want to go!
This book was really cute! The illustrations were really fun. Some of the pictures are turns sideways so you have to turn the book to read it, which adds another level of fun for children. It's an easy read, even when the words are difference sizes and fonts.
I would use this book in my classroom because it illustrates the magic of reading. Books can take you places you dream of. They can be used as a way to explore the world in the comfort of wherever you are.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! Loved reading about the magic of reading and libraries!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mitchell, Malcolm The Magician’s Hat, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. PICTURE BOOK. Orchard Books (Scholastic), 2018. $18. 9781338114546

The Magician has come to Family Fun Day at the library, but he has more than regular magic tricks. He brings the magic within books to life for the children, showing them that so many things are possible if you dream.

Unfortunately this picture book lacks the mention of the idea that you also have to work to achieve your dreams. Also, for one of the boys dreams of being the stereotypical football star, which I find to be weak storytelling. With a couple of small tweaks, this could have been an inspirational book.

EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018/...

[Simon Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

well yes

[Keya B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Magician’s Hat does not hold any major literature honors, but it’s author, Malcolm Mitchell was awarded Georgia’s Author of the Year. The text has been featured and positively reviewed on Kirkus Reviews.

In this picturebook, it’s Family Fun Day at the library and a magician shows up. The magician does normal magic tricks to keep the people engaged and then he does his favorite magic trick of all, which starts with a story about how he discovered magic in the power of reading. The magician showed the children how they could also find themselves in books. The children pulled books from his hat that led them to the careers they wanted. One child, Ryan, believes the magician is a fake, but Ryan too discovers the magic of being who he wants to be. “The desires that are within you bring out the magic in these books. Follow your dreams and they will take you wherever you want to go.”

The text is filled with bright and bold images that display magic in the form of fireworks, swirls and stars. The children in the images are in complete awe of the events that are taking place. Some words are large and in a different color font. These words seem to be connected with the theme of the book.

I would recommend this text to students in second through fourth grades. I would use this book to help students discover that there is power in reading. Reading can help us discover who we are and what we want to be. Also, there is great use of tier 2 vocabulary words like dazzle, vanished, and wandered that could be highlighted.

I located this book while doing a search on Kirkus Reviews. I was able to obtain the book by purchasing it.

[Jenny Yergin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, and will probably buy it! It shows that books can be magical because they can take you so many places.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and sweet. It made tears come to my eyes. It brings the idea that books themselves are magic, and I idea I've long felt in my heart. It reminds me of Inkheart by Cornelia Funke in the way it identifies books has having a power/magic of their own with you combine them with your dreams and effort.

"The desires that are within you bring out the magic in these books. Follow your dreams and they will take you wherever you want to go."

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Impulse Pima

With a library like the one depicted, one doesn't need a magician.

I'm sure some folks will like this, and some may even benefit from it, but it falls flat for me. Even if magic were real, wishes are supposed to have consequences, after all. There's nothing actually interesting here.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is The Magician’s Hat, written by Malcolm Mitchell and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, a magical ode to the power of reading.

Family Fun Day has come to the library, and families of all shapes and sizes have gathered for the stories, activities, and of course, the books. For the first time, there’s also a magician, a tall and lanky man with a very mysterious hat. After performing a few mystifying tricks, the magician tells a story: when he himself was a young boy, he came to Family Fun Day at the library as well. It was there that he picked up his first book on magic, and learned that reading books has a magical power all its own. Then, he encourages his young audience to think about what they want to be when they grow up, then reach into his hat. Incredibly, the children who do so – even the skeptic – find just the right book to encourage their aspirations and help them envision their goals. The magician invites everyone to look for magic in books, because reading can help them make their dreams come true.

Very sweet. With an emphasis on the importance of reading as a self-driven hobby, the story focuses on how books can help us achieve dreams, both in the fantastical sense as well as the realistic. There’s not too much rising or falling action, but the message is strong enough that it holds its own without a more involved plot. Lee-Vriethoff’s illustrations are as charming as always, with spreads featuring the lanky-limbed magician and the children’s dreams and aspirations being gorgeous standouts. The length is fine, and JJ enjoyed it. A wonderful story about the power of reading, and we liked it a lot. Baby Bookworm approved!

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Tabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard about Mitchell’s struggle with reading in an Instagram clip. When he started college he could only read at a junior high level and decided he wanted to get better at reading, so he began working on improving his reading skill. He said his football talent came natural but his reading skill did not. He said, “that came natural. That’s a gift. I had to work to read.” After hearing that and that he begin writing children’s books I had to read them and show support for Mitchell and his driven goal to increase his reading skill and share his new love of reading. He created Share The Magic Foundation, after he learned “how much reading impacts an individuals life” and to inspire people to read.

The Magicians Hat is a cute story sharing the importance of libraries and books. I love that the story takes place on family day at the library where children are able to go around the library and participate in different activities surrounding books. Every child loves magic and having a magician show up to the library was a fun way to show children to believe in their dreams. “I discovered that book wasn’t just about magic. I learned that books are magic.” I loved when each child shared their dream of what they want to be and the magician was able to share a book with them. A super cute read by a guy who can really play football and worked hard to become a better reader and then saw the power of books and began writing them. “Sometimes you must really reach and stretch for what you want to be. That’s part of the magic”.

[Charlotte Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magician's Hat by Malcolm Mitchell is a fantasy book that can be used in K-2 grades. This book tells the story of a magician that comes to a library and uses his magic to help kids accomplish their dreams. In the story the kids will say what they want to be when they grow up and then reach into his hat. When the kids reach in, a book comes out that relates to their dreams. The illustrations in the book are also done in a very unique style that students might not often see. To use this book in a K-2 classroom I might read the book as a read aloud but then ask the students what their dreams/goals are and to write them down and put them in my own magic hat. The next day I would have books ready for the students to read that relate to their own dreams. These books would, of course be picture books that are within their independent reading levels. Another way to use this would be to have students create their own magic hat out of construction paper. Students could design the hat with goals and dreams they hope to accomplish in their own future.
This is a WOW book for me because it illustrates how magical books can be, especially for kids. It's important to make learning and reading a fun thing for students to do rather than a chore and I think this book does a great job of embodying that idea. The author of this book is also written by a former NFL player which I think would be worth mentioning to kids because it shows that even a Superbowl winner enjoy reading.

[Beth Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Magician's Hat' by Malcolm Mitchell, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, is destined to be one of your favorite children's books. It is not only an endearing tale promoting the power of reading, but a beautiful story about finding what you love, staying true to yourself, and not letting anything stand in your way.

The wonderful and colorful illustrations only add to the beauty of the book. They shed light on the power that one book can hold, especially with one particular illustration in which all of the books look the same except for the one that holds the excitement the young magician is searching for while in the library one day. The metaphorical value here will stand out for any lover of symbolism.

Not only does the story immerse readers in the joy of books, but also in the joy of libraries. The first two pages show a library that any book lover would want to visit, full of family fun and hidden areas where children and adults can tuck themselves away to read to their heart's delight.

An adorable and awe-inducing book that readers will likely want to read again and again, 'The Magician's Hat' is a fantastic story, and hopefully only the first of many by Malcolm Mitchell.

Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels

*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*

[Emily Lockridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a magician who visits a family fun day at the local library. He dazzles the crowd with his magic tricks. Then, he pulls out his magician's hat and impresses the children with his ability to produce books that correspond with their dreams.
This is a good example of a picture book. The illustrations are beautifully done, and would easily capture and hold the attention of young readers. The illustrations also closely follow the story line and allow the reader to better understand the story using the pictures. The text in the story is simple and to the point.
The book has a good message: reading is magical, and that through reading we can achieve our dreams. I would like to incorporate this book into my classroom at the beginning of the year to get kids excited about reading. It would also work well as an introduction to a discussion about future dreams and goals. It would lend itself nicely as an introduction to a writing assignment maybe about careers students might want in the future, or wonderful experiences they've had in readung. The illustrations also give credit to the power of imagination! I love that!
I would put this as a lower level book, probably appropriate for kids in grades k-2. One downside that I found in the book is that the sentence structures and grammar are very simple. I would have liked a little bit more sophisticated language.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Family Fun Day at the library was filled with exciting events. Book scavenger hunts. Storytelling. Reading rallies. Today, for the first time, a magician arrived with a bag of tricks and a BIG hat.

Premise/plot: Do libraries need visiting magicians to be magical places? NO! But in this picture book, a magician who loves books happens to be visiting. He tells the children that books are magic, that books can take you to places you've only dreamed about. The book does seem to be occupied chiefly with associating books with occupations. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "I've got a book for that in my hat!" (The quotes are NOT from the book, just my summing up of the book's plot.)

My thoughts: I love books. I love reading. I love the message that books can be magical. But. I didn't quite love this one. Books aren't only for figuring out what you want to do in life. That is such a narrow, narrow focus of what books have to offer readers. There are hundreds of reasons why kids might pick up a book. There are hundreds--if not thousands--of reasons why adults might continue to read books.

Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

[American Mensa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every year at Family Fun Night in the library, kids do lots of fun things with books. This year there is a magician with a magic hat. He helps kids learn what books are really about through his magic tricks. First, he does some fun things like bending a spoon and making a banana disappear. This shows everyone that he is really a magician. Then he does the biggest trick of all. But not everyone thinks the magician’s magic is real. A boy named Ryan tries to prove the magician’s magic is fake, and he gets a big surprise.
I think people who read this book will like it because the story teaches you something special about books. My favorite parts are the magic tricks. They are really neat. I also like the texture and shape of the words on the cover. They are big, shiny and blue! And I like the pictures in the book. They are very detailed and have lots of colors. But at times there is too much pink and purple on the page for me. More green and red would be better. I would recommend this book to kids who are 3 to 8-years old. It shows you that reading can be magical!
review by Cyril L., age 6, Metropolitan Washington Mensa

[Mike Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magician’s Hat is an inspirational story that motivates its readers, of any age, to dream big. The book starts off with a family fun day at the library which was filled with all types of activities for children. A magician shows up and has a very large hat. He explains that he once attended the family fun day at that same library and that he found a book about magic; the book consisted of all of his dreams, aspirations, and goals and that is what started his path to be a magician. The magician invited multiple kids to come up as he asked them what they wanted to be; each child answered and the magician told them to dig deep in his hat, each time held a book related to their dreams.

This book teaches children that reading holds power and can help you fulfill your biggest dreams.

I believe that this book is beneficial because I have always seen the wonders of reading. Although I have never been much of a reader myself, I’ve seen books that an open up the world for everyone.

I would recommend to anyone, not only children, that needs even the slightest bit of motivation to achieve their goals.

[Jaycie Birdwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The school library is hosting a Family Fun Day when for the first time, a magician arrives with his big hat. He begins his biggest magic trick by telling a story about finding his calling to be a magician right there in that very library. He asks the kids what they want to be when they grow up. One by one, the kids call out what they wish to be, and they pull a book out of the hat that describes exactly that. Everyone is in awe, and the magician explains that it is the desires within that create the magic in these books. If you follow your dreams, you can go wherever you want to go, and magic will appear.

This was a cute book, and I think it could be very inspiring to kids. It encourages them to chase their dreams and dream big, which I think is important for young kids to do, even if their dreams may not turn into reality. If I were to read this book to my class, I would follow it up with a writing assignment with the prompt, "What do you wish to be when you grow up, and why?" and ask them how they might work towards achieving that dream. Then, based off their answer to that question, they can pick and read a book from the library that relates to their dream career.

[Thumbnail That · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy this book was to read! It took me back to why I love reading so much myself. Mitchell relates books as tantamount to magic (brilliant!). Books can take you anywhere. They can help you discover your dreams, provide the playbook for achieving them, and encourage you to pursue them. This is messaging that kids need to hear.

Lew-Vriethoff’s illustrations were vivid and captivating. A masterful display of artistry. The text was easy to read. I loved the font size and font choice, it aligns nicely with the magical theme of the book. This is another book that you should definitely add to your bookshelf at home. It reminds kids to expect the unexpected between the covers of a book. There really isn’t anything to not LOVE about this book. It is as Stephen King says, “…portable magic.”

[Mrs Heidrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book to celebrate libraries and books! A magician comes to family fun day and talks about how he used to come there and the library sparked his imagination as a kid and created a desire for him to become a magician when he found a book about magic. Kids reach into the magician's hat and pull out books about what they'd like to be when they get older. One boy tries to stump the magician by telling him he wants to be a dog when he gets older, but you'll have to read the book to see what kind of book his ends up finding in the hat...

Lesson plans and audio: https://www.readwithmalcolm.com/teach...
- discussion starters, writing tasks, extension ideas, etc.
- includes additional resources for exploring dreams