Meet the Author
This Author Has Brought A Message of Compassion to Thousands of Students!
TeachKind is thrilled to partner with Brooklyn native and acclaimed author Stewart Mitchell to bring an unforgettable “Meet the Author” experience to your fifth graders in the New York City area! Stewart, also known as “Vigilante Vegan,” is the author of Liberation Summer, which is based on his own experiences and tells the story of a Black teen named Jayden who gets a job at a fast-food chicken restaurant, learns about the cruel treatment of chickens in the meat industry, and decides to go vegan and advocate for animal liberation. The book emphasizes the importance of having empathy for others, including animals.
Stewart is an animal and human rights activist and will share with students not only how and why he wrote Liberation Summer but also his personal story of following a vegan lifestyle, inspiring students to make the world a better place for all living, feeling beings.
Here’s how it works:
TeachKind donates free copies of Liberation Summer to a school’s fifth-grade students, teachers, and paraprofessionals. “Meet the Author” is the culminating event after classes have read the book and worked through the chapter questions and worksheets on characters, plot, and theme that we provide. At the conclusion of the event, Stewart will sign students’ copies of the book. TeachKind will also donate delicious vegan chicken sandwiches from Secret Vegan Kitchen (and other vegan food providers) for all participants. The food is always a big hit with students because many were not aware of how tasty vegan food can be.
Teachers love seeing how excited their students are about reading Liberation Summer. Many report that their students are riveted by the story and don’t even wait to read it as a class because they can’t put the book down after reading just a few pages. All participating schools are thrilled to have students read Liberation Summer, meet the author, and try vegan food—exposing them to a different perspective, which is what education is all about. Many schools are even making this event an annual tradition.
Washington Rose Elementary has been doing just that for its fifth graders since 2022. Here’s what the principal had to say:
Ready to secure your spot?
Stewart visits schools in all five New York City boroughs and Long Island to speak about the book, being vegan, and how the kids can help animals. If you’re an educator who’s interested in having this “Meet the Author” program at your school, please e-mail TeachKind at [email protected].
Our schedule fills up fast, and we don’t want you to miss out—book now and see why other NY schools are raving about this one-of-a-kind event.
A Recap of What’s in Store for Your Students
- Free books: Every fifth-grade teacher and student will receive a copy of Liberation Summer, plus a signed copy for your school library.
- Free book activities: Enjoy complimentary activities to accompany the book (chapter questions and worksheets on characters, plot, and theme).
- Free event: During the in-person event, Stewart Mitchell will share his inspiring story, offer writing tips, answer students’ questions, and motivate them to keep reading, writing, and dreaming big!
- Free food: Participating students and staff will enjoy free vegan chicken sandwiches. Students and teachers routinely express how surprisingly delicious they are.
Why Fifth Graders?
Fifth graders are at a perfect age to engage deeply when learning about animal issues, and this program can channel their enthusiasm into academic success. TeachKind is here to support you every step of the way!
What Other NY Schools Are Saying
“Our students and staff really enjoyed the event. They loved the chicken nuggets and could not believe that it was a vegan option. The students and staff were also appreciative of the information shared about how to be a vegan and make healthier choices. P396K The Sid Miller Academy is grateful for this program and would love to have Mr. Stewart again with any of his additional books he has written and any other programs we can be considered for … Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!” – Tiali Kyte, Assistant Principal, P396K, Sid Miller Academy
“This was a wonderful experience for our 5th graders! They’ve been enjoying the book and lessons, and it was great to see how they interacted and asked thoughtful questions of Mr. Mitchell. On behalf of my class, thank you and Ms. Cotton for setting up this event. We loved the food, too!” -Nikki Smith, Teacher, PS 44
“We had the pleasure of welcoming author and vegan activist, Stewart Mitchell to our school. He shared his book, Liberation Summer with our 5th grade students. The Secret Vegan Kitchen partnered with him and shared tasty vegan chicken sandwiches with the students!” – PS 13’s social media