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Martellus Bennett Giving 'Gift Of Imagination' With New Children's Book

BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots added another big target for Tom Brady, and a giant personality in the locker room, with the offseason trade for tight end Martellus Bennett.

Bennett joined WBZ-TV's Sports Final on Sunday night, and told Steve Burton his Patriots career is getting off to a great start. He's already learning a lot from Tom Brady, doing his best to earn the quarterback's trust, and he is enjoying life in the locker room alongside Rob Gronkowski.

"We're funny together," Bennett said of his relationship with Gronk. "We just have fun, talk to each other and talk about how we can be better. We're working on pushing each other."

Bennett and Gronkowski should form a formidable 1-2 punch for Brady, one that will give opposing defenses nightmares as they prepare for the Patriots.

As Bennett gets set for his debut season in New England, he's also excited to start a new venture off the field. He's published his first children's book, "Hey A.J. It's Saturday," the first of a series he will be releasing over the next few years.

"I'm a huge fan of Willy Wonka, and he brought happiness to everyone by making chocolate. He had his great factory and growing up I always wanted to bring happiness to kids and people around the world," said Bennett.

Copies of his new book come in its own special box because Bennett wants every kid who receives a copy to feel like they're getting a gift.

"The gift of imagination," he explained.

The series is based on the life of his daughter, Austin Jett.

"I wanted to start off with Saturday, because as a kid it was always my favorite day of the week. Waking up and watching cartoons, eating big bowls of cereal out of the biggest bowl my mom had in the house. I wanted kids to meet A.J. on her Saturday. She's such an imaginative girl who always uses her imagination, and she ends up making a mess," explained Bennett.

Bennett has written several other children's books, but this is the first one he's published and is releasing through his company.

"Children's books are a lot harder to write than it seems," he said with a smile.

You may be wondering why an NFL player would be writing a children's book in his spare time. Bennett said this is a great way for his daughter to remember him, and not because of what he did on the football field.

"The things we create go on forever," he said. "I don't want my daughter to grow up saying 'my dad had a great stiff arm.' I want her to know that he made things. These are stories that will be here forever for her."

Bennett will be signing copies of "Hey A.J. It's Saturday" this weekend at a pop-up shop on 91 Newbury St. (5pm on Friday; 9am, 12pm, 3pm and 5pm on Saturday; 2pm and 4pm on Sunday).

Tune in to Sports Final and Sports Final OT at 11:35 p.m. every Sunday night on WBZ-TV!

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