Our Mission

Since 2008, HUTCH magazine has provided an inviting platform for young learners to share their ideas while focusing on positive and constructive values. HUTCH is an accessible resource for parents and child educators wishing to encourage meaningful learning through the unique experience of being published for a broad audience.

What is HUTCH magazine?

HUTCH was published as a printed kids’ literary and creativity magazine annually between 2008 and 2021 under the direction of Peter H. Reynolds, with the help of The Blue Bunny Bookstore and his non-profit foundation, The Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity. In 2022, HUTCH made the shift to an electronic format - with submissions published at periodic intervals over the course of the year. The magazine features stories, art, poetry, book reviews, travel logs by kids from every corner of the globe. Children in grades K through 8 are invited to submit art, poetry, stories, book reviews, photos and expository and personal essays for consideration. All submissions are requested to be focused toward positive values.

HUTCH is produced with help from a volunteer editing staff at The Reynolds Center, with original illustrations and art direction by Peter H. Reynolds. While the original magazine was published in a printed format, HUTCH is now an electronic publication.

Who’s Who

Creative Editor Peter H. Reynolds is an accomplished writer, storyteller and illustrator, who brings his enthusiasm and energy to every project he creates. As an author, he has become well known for his best-selling books about protecting and nurturing the creative spirit, including the three books in his “Creatrilogy”—The Dot, Ish, and Sky Color. Peter and his twin brother, Paul, launched the Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity (TLC) to encourage creativity and innovation in teaching and learning. It is dedicated to ensuring that all learners develop the vision, confidence, knowledge and skills needed to move their own lives forward, and to use their talents, strengths and energy to move their communities and the world to a better place. Creative oversight of HUTCH is part of that mission.

Managing Editor Janet Reynolds started in the publishing business a long time ago, and has been passionate about children’s literature for even longer. With a background in communications, literature, and early education, HUTCH magazine is a perfect project to combine her interests. After managing the daily operations of the Blue Bunny Bookstore for many years, Janet is happy to continue to spread the spirit of the store with the aspiring young writers and artists who submit their work to HUTCH. She applauds all of the contributors to HUTCH. It takes courage to share your creative ideas with others!

Teen Editor/Youth Leader Maxwell Surprenant serves as the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Catching Joy, Inc., a nonprofit that promotes volunteerism beginning with kids, teens, and their families. His organization has aided more than 60 charities and mobilized more than 60,000 people to help others. Maxwell loves to use his writing to make a difference. While in middle school and high school, he served as a Sports Illustrated Kid Reporter and a Scholastic Kids Reporter, interviewing former First Lady Michelle Obama, then Vice-President Joe Biden, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. He was also the youngest reporter covering the 2016 Presidential Campaign Trail and attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Maxwell recently graduated from St. Sebastian's School in Needham, MA, where he was active in art, music, theater, debate, soccer, and baseball. Maxwell will continue his writing and community service when he begins study at Harvard University in the Fall of 2022.

Graphic Designer Andrea Calvin brings her background in journalism and magazine design to HUTCH. As the Vice President of Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning & Creativity, Andrea works to engage new and existing partners to ensure that all learners – especially children – develop the vision, confidence, knowledge and skills needed to succeed. She has been on the forefront of the product launch and classroom-implementation of FabMaker Studio, the first digital fabrication software tool developed specifically for use in the classroom. In her previous life, Andrea worked in the Boston-area newspaper world as a reporter and editor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a master’s degree in Journalism from Regent University.

HUTCH Education Advisor Michelle Perron is a veteran elementary school teacher in Walpole, MA. She finds great joy in encouraging her students to find and share themselves through creative means and has advocated for them to submit to HUTCH magazine since she learned of it in its early years. She has been lucky to be invited by her students to attend and enjoy many of the publication parties. Being part of the HUTCH team allows Michelle to combine her love of teaching, literature, art, and other forms of creative expression. Advocating for creativity in schools is something very dear to Michelle and she values the opportunity HUTCH offers students to express themselves while being honored for sharing their own unique voices!