A British footballer is giving away 50,000 copies of his own children’s book this summer.
As part of his book club initiative, Marcus Rashford’s debut book will be offered to 50,000 children from some of the most economically deprived areas of the country.
The Marcus Rashford Book Club is run in partnership with Macmillan Children’s Books, KPMG and The National Literacy Trust, and is in charge of distributing the book to children under-10 years old.
The book, The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Beast Beyond the Fence, was written by Rashford and co-authored by Alex Falase-Koya. It was illustrated by Marta Kissi.
The young philanthropist footballer said the book club is meant to “get the right books in the hands of children who have very limited access to them” and help offer “an escape from environments that can be quite challenging and to find the joy in reading”.
Marcus described books as “a great source of inspiration and motivation, and much needed for children who struggle to see beyond what is on their doorstep”.
Co-author Alex Falase-Koya explained that books had always been “a refuge to me and a place where my imagination could be ignited” when he was a child.
The book follows a 12 yr old boy who accidentally kicks a ball over a fence and thinks it will be lost forever, only to then receive a mysterious letter telling him to come and join the Breakfast Club Investigators. He is soon involved in an exciting adventure with his new friends, helping them solve the mystery of what lies beyond that school fence…
Another instalment of the book club will continue in autumn 2022, and 25,000 copies of an as-of-yet-unknown title will be offered to more children.
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