HarperCollins Publishers recently announced that it has signed a two-book deal with three-time NBA champion LeBron James.
“Books have the ability to teach, inspire and bring people together,” said James in a statement. “That’s why these books, and the opportunity to get children and parents reading together, mean so much to me.”
His debut picture book, titled “I PROMISE,” is directly inspired from the Lebron James Family Foundation’s program of the same name, which helps more than 1,400 students from the athlete’s hometown of Akron in Ohio.
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New York Times bestselling illustrator Nina Mata collaborated with the basketball legend for “I PROMISE,” which is described by HarperCollins as a “lively and inspiring picture book that reminds us that tomorrow’s success starts with the promises we make to ourselves and our community today.”
“We wanted to make sure these stories are ones that every single kid can see themselves in. ‘I PROMISE’ is powerful in that way and I can’t wait for people to read it,” James added in a statement.
While the picture book will hit bookstores on Aug. 11, the four-time NBA MVP is currently working on a middle-grade novel.
In addition to venturing into children’s books, James reportedly spent last summer filming the much-anticipated sequel to 1996’s “Space Jam.”
Details about the forthcoming “Space Jam 2” are still scarce to this date, although the film will mark James’ first major acting role.
The 35-year-old athlete made a brief appearance in Judd Apatow’s 2015 “Trainwreck,” alongside Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, Brie Larson, John Cena and more. IB /ra
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