Clovis publishes its first official children’s book. Here’s what it teaches
Clovis has launched its first official children’s book to educate elementary school kids about Clovis’s history and traditions.
Written by Susie Harder, a local speech-language pathologist and children’s book author, the tale of “Clovis On Tour: Connecting Kids to the Story of their Hometown” follows a third-grader who explores the city aboard the Clovis Trolley with Jenna Prandini, a Clovis High School graduate and Olympic silver medalist.
The book will be placed in every third-grade classroom and at every elementary school library within the Clovis Unified School District, according to city officials.
The book introduces the city’s historical milestones, traditions, annual events, and how public institutions like the fire and police departments keep the city functioning. It includes a tour guide training kit, providing children a chance to earn an official tour guide certificate from the mayor.
The project, spearheaded by former Mayor Lynne Ashbeck, took two years to complete. Community members, nonprofit organizations, and the City of Clovis rallied to support the creation of this book and raised a total of $35,000, according to city officials.
“I have always said, I don’t want our kids to grow up thinking that the heart of our city is a Starbucks, with all the respect to Starbucks. But it’s so much more than that,” Ashbeck said at Monday’s council meeting, in which the council issued a proclamation declaring the book as Clovis’s first official children’s book.
“It’s the values that we hold, the traditions that we all carry, even remembering people who have served before. That’s how we got here,” Ashbeck said. “I feel incredibly lucky that we can tell this story. I don’t think another city in California has a story written by someone who lives here, about someone who grew up here, to talk about why it’s so special.”
Harder said community members met two years ago to discuss what messages the book should convey to students. They came up with 43 topics.
“So the three that really stand out to me, that I’m so proud of when I hold this book and the meaning of it to our community, our history, values and gratitude,” Harder said at the council meeting. “You’ll notice on each page, not only is there a place that’s important, and they’ll recognize, but there’s a value statement.”
The children’s book includes a blank page for signatures at the end to encourage students to meet and thank everyday community heroes.
Harder and Prandini said the design of the signature page stems from Clovis’s core values of community unity, mutual support, and gratitude.
“When I’m traveling around the world, competing in all different countries, something that’s always brought up is where I come from. When they see the clips of my Olympics, they’ll see clips of my hometown and people cheering for me,” Prandini told the city council. “Everyone thinks that’s so amazing, and I’ve always been very grateful for it. Every time I’m asked about Clovis, I get so much pride, and it’s just always a reminder of how thankful I am to have such a supportive community.”
California state standards for third grade include a local history component, that’s why the book is being specifically placed in third-grade classrooms, said Clovis Unified spokesperson Kelly Avants.
“Teachers will be able to use this book as a supplemental resource when teaching about the local community and its history,” Avants said.
The first printing of the book included 1,750 copies, according to city officials. Additional copies are expected to be printed in the future.
Though Clovis Unified does not have plans to hand out this book for every third-grade student, parents can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon or at the Clovis Night Out event on Saturday at David McDonald Park, where Harder and Prandini will be signing copies.
The book is priced at $15 with proceeds going to the Jenna Prandini Dream Big Project, a non-profit organization that funds health and fitness programs for local kids.
