28 | JUNE 29 • 2023
J
ewish children’s author Andy Gutman
is back with a new book co-authored
by a special group of budding writ-
ers. Released this June, My First Day of
Kindergarten sees 12 Beechview Elementary
fifth-graders sharing their personal stories of
their kindergarten experience.
Through their storytelling,
the Farmington Public School
District cohort of students pro-
vide invaluable guidance and
support to upcoming genera-
tions of kindergarteners who
will one day read their book.
For Gutman, who has
authored several children’s books in col-
laboration with students, My First Day of
Kindergarten is another way to give back
to the community. Like previous books,
the new release has a fundraising element.
All proceeds go directly to Beechview
Elementary.
“The children wrote the stories over a
period of several months,
” Gutman, a Novi
resident who has served on several BBYO
boards and as a BBYO adviser, explains.
“They worked with their advisers, mentors
and teachers to help them with the stories.
”
Once the stories were completed, they
were edited and put together with graphic
design to create the final book. Each student,
Gutman says, chose a character from one of
his previous books as the main character for
their stories.
Sharing kindergarten stories was a theme
created in collaboration with Beechview stu-
dents and staff. The book was initially called
The Kindness Project after Gutman’s book,
Be Kind, but was later changed to its current
title.
The original name hails from the inspi-
ration for the writing project, as Beechview
students and staff learned about Gutman’s
work after reading Be Kind, a pre-COVID-19
release. Gutman was also in contact with
a school staff member from their days as
BBYO advisers.
Eventually, the writing project took hold,
and it was determined that Beechview
fifth-graders would tell stories about navigat-
ing the exciting and sometimes overwhelm-
ing world of entering school as a young
kindergartener.
“Many of the children wrote about being
nervous and afraid on their first day,
”
Gutman says. “There were themes about the
wonderful teachers they met, the friendships
they made and all that they learned.
”
Despite getting editing help from adults,
Gutman and Beechview staff made it a prior-
ity for the stories to retain the original voices
of the students telling them. “The writing
process was taking the imagination and writ-
ten ideas from the students, while keeping
their ideas and themes intact,
” Gutman says.
Upon the book’s release, Beechview stu-
dents took part in a book-signing ceremony
where they proudly shared their work with
classmates and parents. “Each of the 12 stu-
dents is very proud and excited over accom-
plishing this great goal of being published
authors,
” Gutman describes. “It’s amazing to
see them realize they can accomplish any-
thing they set their minds to.
”
Dollars raised from Amazon book sales,
where the book is currently available for
purchase, will help fund school programs
and make sure that every kindergartener
in the Farmington Public School District
can receive a copy of My First Day of
Kindergarten on their first day of school.
Gutman believes that inspiring young
authors, especially at an early age, is critical
to the future of storytelling. “Early success
in storytelling and embracing the imag-
ination of children can give them a love
of reading and writing,” he says. “Seeing
others embrace their stories and appreciate
their efforts builds a sense of pride and
accomplishment.”
OUR COMMUNITY
Fifth-Graders Co-Author
New Book on Kindergarten
Experiences
Andy
Gutman
Beechview Elementary students partner
with children’s author Andy Gutman.
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
CLOCKWISE: Student authors and their
teachers pose during the book-signing. Andy
Gutman signs some books. The school has a
book-signing party for the fifth grade authors.
COURTESY OF GUTCHECK PUBLISHING