Michelle Obama Tour Stop Inspires Book Drive At Saint Paul’s Xcel Energy Center

Mike Lawrence / Barclays – From The White House To The Hardwood:
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is drawing sell-out arena crowds across the country for her “Becoming: An Intimate Conversation.” Here at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Dec. 1.

Michelle Obama’s book tour and commitment to education has inspired the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn., and Live Nation to host a book drive to benefit the community. 

The book drive will take place March 13 to coincide with the “Becoming, An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama” tour stopping by the arena on Wednesday. New and gently used books can be dropped off at the venue’s main entrance (Gate 1 off of Kellogg Blvd.) beginning March 13 at 10 a.m. until the start of the show at 8 p.m. Staff will also be hosting their own donation drive that began Monday. 

The books will be given to Saint Paul public schools, including the Barack and Michelle Obama Elementary School, for use in libraries and classrooms. Donations will also be given to students to supplement home reading materials.  

Suggestions for donations include recent nonfiction books (2012 or newer) suitable for children ages 4-12 on topics such as animals, cars, planets, space exploration and sports; popular series children’s fiction titles such as “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “Dork Diaries,” “Magic Tree House” and “Lightning Thief”; perennial children’s favorites such as selections by Dr. Seuss, Mo Willems (“Elephant and Piggie”) and Doreeen Cronin (“Click Clack Moo”); and recent copyright (2012 or newer) picture books that feature contemporary children of color. 

“Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama” is in support of the former First Lady’s memoir, “Becoming,” which became a New York Times No. 1 Bestseller and has sold more than 3 million units since being released in November. The tour features Obama sharing her reflections on the experiences and events that have shaped her, including thoughts about her childhood on the South Side of Chicago, years as an executive, motherhood and her time in the White House.

The 2018 edition of “Becoming: An Intimate Conversion” won the Pollstar Award for the Best Non-Music Tour of the Year. The 12-show book tour included sold-out shows across the country including a Nov. 29 stop at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center that moved 12,507 tickets and grossed nearly $1.5 million.