First Day Project: Beginning Literacy Early!

The first day of school can be filled with anxiety for children and their parents. But a growing number of kindergarteners have the extra excitement of receiving a gift when they step into their classroom. The First Day Project aims to give Stockton Unified School District kindergarteners a new book.

The project was started in summer 2021 by retired educator Alan Cook, who wanted to help lift literacy rates by instilling a lifelong love of reading in young students. He set a goal to collect enough books for the three kindergarten classes at Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton. “I put it out on Facebook and 300 books were donated that first year. I ended up with enough books for seven schools,” he smiled.

Alan is an imaginative altruist who strives to make a difference in his community, and this particular passion project of his proved popular. He launched a book drive to collect new hardcover picture books that would be donated to kindergarten classes, where students would receive them on the first day of school. Friends, acquaintances and total strangers stepped to the challenge as his Facebook posts were shared by his Facebook friends on social media, spreading news of the project far and wide.

“I have met some amazing people,” Alan said, sharing how the program has been copied in other areas. “A church in Sutter Creek did a First Day Project for two years and gave every kindergartner in the county a new book.” A lay pastor in Roanoke saw his posting and had his small church adopt a kindergarten class in the school across the street. One Stockton nine-year-old even hosts a lemonade stand one day in the summer for the good cause.

The number of books that are collected continues to grow every year. “I think half of our kindergartners in our district received books last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if every kindergarten in the district received a picture book in Stockton Unified this coming school year,” Mary Ann Pafford, district librarian for Stockton Unified, said. “Alan will call and say ‘I have 1,500 books and then a couple of days later, he will call and say ‘I have 77 more. I have more books; I need more classes.’”

Mary Ann was happy to help. She made a spreadsheet, entering every kindergarten class in her district so she can keep track of how many books each class needs. “Reading is something I am passionate about. Stockton Unified is highly focused on literacy. We are trying to bring the joy of reading into it. So, this project really meets our objectives,” she said. “It’s so nice for them to have the gift of a new book to take home. It sets the tone.”

Teachers say it’s special to be on the receiving end. Christine Sandoval, a kindergarten teacher at August Elementary School in Stockton, says she puts the books on her new students’ desks, then gathers them together to read one of the picture books. “After the story, I tell them about Alan and his wonderful generosity,” she said. “Many kids light up with big smiles, jumping up and down.” Her students often say things like “Wow, I get to keep this?” They immediately start flipping through the pages, looking at the pictures and trying to read the story. “Alan’s project likely plants a seed of curiosity, literacy and the joy that will benefit the children academically, socially and emotionally for years to come. Seeing the joy on my students’ faces as they receive their very own books is truly heartwarming.”

Debbie Cook, the mother of an elementary school teacher, has helped her daughter build her classroom library and was happy to donate to First Day Project. “This project just struck my heart,” Debbie said. “I like shopping for the books. I look for books that are teacher recommended. I like the Mo Willems Pigeon series; those are fun.”
One local group of friends took up the First Day Project cause and ditched their annual Christmas gift exchange. “My friends and I are in our mid-’60s and we’ve accumulated enough trinkets, so we thought why not donate to Alan’s project instead,” Julie Morehouse said. “We had so much fun doing it and we collected three boxes of books.”

Alan remains as passionate as ever about collecting books for the cause. “This might be the first book that a kindergartner in Stockton Unified has ever received as a gift,” he said. “Books open the world of beauty and discovery.”

His ultimate goal for this year is to collect 1,500 books and to increase the number of kindergartens he is able to provide with books. The deadline for donating a new book is July 22; books can be dropped off at two Stockton businesses, In Season, 215 E. Alpine, or PMZ Real Estate, 3516 Deer Park Drive, during business hours. Alan also encourages people to write a note inside the cover for the kindergarten student who will receive it. People can also donate online to the cause by going to anjoaquincf.org.
“The generosity of people has been amazing. People don’t just give one book; they give four or five. People tell me they love to go to the store and actually pick out a book, choosing one they liked reading as a child or liked reading to their kids or maybe the cover jumped out to them,” Alan said. “So many of those who donate are educators and know how important literacy is. The project appeals to people because it’s a positive thing that’s happening in Stockton.”