Channing Tatum reads his latest book to Brooklyn Heights’ kids

June 1, 2023 Mary Frost

Superstar and best-selling author Channing Tatum reads his latest children’s book, “The One and Only Sparkella and the Big Lie.” Photo by Amy Gibbs/Montague BID @amygibbsphoto @montaguebid

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BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Montague Street was all abuzz on May 30, with shoppers and passersby wondering, “Why was a block of the street closed on a Tuesday? What were the chairs for?”

The mystery was soon solved, when 128 kindergarteners from Brooklyn Heights’ P.S. 8 trooped in for a special reading adventure with New York Times bestselling author and superstar actor Channing Tatum.

To start, Tatum and the kids created free-form art on giant canvases on the street in front of the Books are Magic shop. The tots wore oversized T-shirts from Le Meraviglie Art Studio, which orchestrated the art work.

More than a hundred kindergarteners from Brooklyn Height’s P.S. 8 heard Channing Tatum read from his new book, “The One and Only Sparkella and the Big Lie.” Photo by Amy Gibbs/Montague BID @amygibbsphoto @montaguebid

The highlight event followed as Tatum read from his new book, “The One and Only Sparkella and the Big Lie.”

This is the third of Tatum’s popular “Sparkella” books, which depict a young girl’s struggles and successes during adventures with her supportive single father, according to School Library Journal. In book three, Sparkella learns the importance of honesty and taking responsibility after making a big mistake. The series is recommended for grades K-3.

Artist and educator Piera Bonerba of Le Meraviglie Art (left) and author/actor Channing Tatum were on Montague Street for a special adventure with P.S. 8 on May 30. Photo by Amy Gibbs/Montague BID @amygibbsphoto @montaguebid

The lucky P.S. 8 kindergarteners left with a copy of the sparkly book, illustrated by Kim Barnes. (According to the Montague Street BID, Books are Magic at 122 Montague St. may even still have a few autographed copies in the store for sale.)

The BID offered special thanks to the merchants on Montague Street between Henry and Hicks; neighbors; the nonprofit Street Lab which provided the street furniture; James Weir Floral for the plants; and everyone else who made the special field day happen.