Magic Cat gets on board for skateboarding book from Olympic medallist Brown

Magic Cat has signed The Life-Changing Magic of Skateboarding from 15 year-old Olympic medallist Sky Brown, the first book in the publisher’s Life-Changing Magic series.

Magic Cat pitched to Brown through her agent Emily Westcott at CAA. The Life-Changing Magic of Skateboarding will feature illustrations from Shaw Davidson with rights to illustration acquired from Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey. The book will be launched globally ahead of the Paris Olympics in April 2024 accompanied by "extensive" PR, brand partnerships and events with Brown.

The Life-Changing Magic of Skateboarding is the "ultimate" beginner’s guide to skateboarding with step-by-step techniques and will share Brown’s story in the hopes of promoting skateboarding for children. 

Brown won gold in the Women’s Skateboarding event at the X Games, the biggest worldwide skate competition, is the first woman to land a frontside 540 and will be representing Great Britain at the Paris Olympics 2024. She commented: "Let me tell you a secret: skateboarding is magic. I don’t mean you have to be a magician to do it. In fact, anyone can skateboard, and I wanted to show younger readers how I began to live my dreams." 

The Life-Changing Magic series will offer readers aged six and over a range of beginner’s guides that "bring joy". The Life-Changing Magic of Chess, by the world’s first Black Grandmaster Maurice Ashley, will publish in April 2024 with musician Nandi Bushell’s The Life-Changing Magic of Drumming following in autumn 2024. "Baking sensation" Joy Wilson will join the list with The Life-Changing Magic of Baking alongside Dapo Adeola’s The Life-Changing Magic of Drawing. 

Publisher Rachel Williams commented: "Sky is an inspiration to millions of children around the world. Her passion is infectious – and we can’t wait to pass that passion on to younger readers in a momentous Olympic year."