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

