‘THE CROWN PUBLISHING GROUP ‘Contact: David Drake 212-782-9001 ‘drake@randomhouse.com FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA TO AUTHOR BOOK, FOR SPRING 2012 PUBLICATION BY CROWN Mrs. Obama Will Tell the Story of Her White House Kitchen Garden and Celebrate the Benefits of Community, School, and Urban Gardens and Fresh, Locally Grown Food For Families anel Communities [New York, NY (March 16,2011) - First Lady Michelle Obama has reached agreement with the Crown Publishing Group at Random House Inc. to author a book schedule for publication in Apri 2012. In er book, Mrs. Obama will the story of the garden she has established on the South Lawn ofthe White House and explore how improved access to fresh, locally grown food ean promote healthier eating habits for families and communities. ‘As yet untied, Mrs. Obama's book will be published asa beautifully Musteated four-color hardeover, including photographs of the White House garden throughout the seasons, a8 well as of ‘other community, urban, and schoo! gardens around the country. standard e-book as well as an cenkanced e-book edition, featuring additonal multimedia content and resources for readers, wil be issued simultaneously, Mrs. Obama accepted no advance forthe book and will donate all proceeds toa chatty or charities to ‘be mamed later. Random House, Inc. will also make a donation to an appropriate charity tobe named, late. Maya Mayje, President & Publisher, Crown Publishing Group, acquired world ist and second sevial, and e-book rights from Robert B. Barnet of Williams & Connolly, who represented Mrs Obama, Tina Constable, Senior Viee President, Publisher, Crown Archetype, will oversee publication ofthe book, working in close collaboration with Lauren Shakely, Senior Vico President, Publisher, Clarkson Potter In er own words, Mrs. Obama will describe how her daughters Sasha and Malia were catalysts for change inher own family's eating behavior, which inspired Mrs. Obama to plant an edible garden on the South Lawn - the firs since Eleanor Roosevelt's “Victory Garden” planted during World War 1 ‘The book willbe inspirational and instructive and wil provide ideas and resources for readers to get involved in the movement to create community, school, and urban gardens, support local femers™ ‘markets, and make small ifestyle changes to achieve big health results. Mrs. Obama wil also share some of her family’s favorite healthy recipes Since entering the White House, Mrs, Obama has emerged asa passionate advocate for health cating and exercise. In February 2010 she launched Let's Move! a nationwide initiative to des the epidemic of childhood obesity by empowering parents and caregivers with inform: improving food quality in schools, increasing acess to healthy, affordable food, and encouragingity. Let's Move! was inspired in pat by Mrs. Obama's experience stating the White House Kitchen Garden in March 2009. She broke ground ona 1,100 square fot plot with the help of 23 fifh-grade students from the Bancroft Elementaty School in Washington, D.C. ‘The arden, which cost less than $200 to start, has produced more than 2,000 pounds of fresh fruit and ‘vogetables that have been incorporated into formal White House dinners and desserts and Obama family dinners. The remaining produce has been donated to Miriam's Kitchen, a D.C. area food. shelter. The White House Kitchen Garden has encouraged national and international interest in the dietary benefits of locally grown, nutitios food. “We are honored to publish Mrs. Obama's book, which will empower and encourage all Americans terchaose ons, deciows, ana Toelly grove items fr thee familias and thee communities,” suid Maya Mavjee, ‘Crown is also the publisher of President Barack Obama's wo national bestselling memoirs, Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope. #8 ow