University of Tennessee Press Releases Children's Book
The new title, My Magic Tux, features a specialized font to support children living with dyslexia.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The University of Tennessee Press has published a new children's book titled My Magic Tux. The project, which was written by J.R. Greene and Joe Shands with illustrations by Nicholas Child, focuses on promoting literacy for young readers.
Why it matters
This publication aligns with the press mission to improve quality of life for residents across Tennessee by increasing access to reading materials. The authors intend for the book to reach a wide audience, with author J.R. Greene aiming for the title to become a New York Times bestseller.
Toyota Material Handling MidSouth donated 500 copies of the book to local schools and libraries. The development and peer review process for the project spanned 2 years of work.
The players
J.R. Greene
J.R. Greene is an author who previously appeared at the 1998 Fiesta Bowl and is now focused on promoting children's literacy.
University of Tennessee Press
The University of Tennessee Press is a publishing house that creates works focused on improving the quality of life for residents in the state.
Toyota Material Handling MidSouth
Toyota Material Handling MidSouth is a corporate entity that supported local education by donating 500 books to schools and libraries in Knoxville.
The details
The book incorporates a specialized font designed specifically to assist children who have dyslexia. Production of the work required international coordination across multiple sites, including Nashville, Santa Fe, and England.
Timeline
1998: J.R. Greene appeared at the Fiesta Bowl.
October 27, 2026: The article is published.
Market Landscape
This project mirrors the goals established by the Tennessee Literacy Success Act to improve student reading performance. It highlights a trend where university presses collaborate with corporate partners to fill gaps in educational access.
Students in Knox County schools and libraries will gain direct access to new reading materials through the donated copies. Readers interested in supporting these literacy efforts can purchase the book through official university channels.
The takeaway
This initiative provides a practical model for how publishers and businesses can collaborate to provide accessible learning materials. Parents and educators can look for books featuring dyslexia-friendly fonts to help encourage reading confidence in children.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to improve community literacy in Knoxville Philanthropy.
More information
To purchase the book or review project details, visit the UT Press website for book purchase.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Beacon.
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