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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Books as building blocks

John Frucci and his wife, Jean, keep track of and organize books at The Children's Book Bank at the old University High School. The book bank is sponsored by area Kiwanis Clubs and Sucess by Six. It provides books to any child up to age 6, and works with parents to encourage reading. (J. BART RAYNIAK / The Spokesman-Review)
Treva Lind Correspondent
John Frucci and his wife, Jean, keep track of and organize books at The Children's Book Bank at the old University High School. The book bank is sponsored by area Kiwanis Clubs and Sucess by Six. It provides books to any child up to age 6, and works with parents to encourage reading. (J. BART RAYNIAK / The Spokesman-Review)

Spokane Valley resident John Frucci oversees some 20,000 books, a collection aimed at giving young children a boost.

Frucci and his wife, Jean, manage The Children’s Book Bank. Sponsored through the Success by Six program and the Kiwanis Clubs of Spokane County, the book bank is in a space at the former University High School site.

The book bank is available to anyone in Spokane County with a preschool or day-care group of children, up to age 6. A group or business can receive the books, along with reading brochures for parents, by submitting an application to the book bank.

“The whole emphasis is helping parents realize their role, how important they are in getting their children to read,” said John Frucci, 72, a retired educator. The program encourages parents to read aloud to young children every day.

“If someone requests books, we call them back and arrange a time for them to pick up the books. The only qualification is children have to be attending a day care or school, and the teacher is going to come to the book bank to pick up the books.”

All 15 Kiwanis groups in the greater Spokane area and KHQ television contribute to the book bank’s success, including holding periodic book drives. One held this past May drew more than 20,000 new or gently used books. Program organizers also distributed more than 7,000 books in May.

“What we’re really after are new and slightly used books for children age 6 and under,” Frucci said.

Since the launch of The Children’s Book Bank 11 years ago, program organizers have given away more than 70,000 books.

Frucci started as a band and orchestra teacher at Bowdish Middle School and then was an administrator at North Pines, Horizon, Greenacres and in the Central Valley administrative office before his retirement about 14 years ago. His wife is also a retired Central Valley elementary teacher, and both are Kiwanis members.

When asked why he does this volunteer work, Frucci referred to a building block of education: reading. The couple’s grandchildren now read all the time, Frucci said, because the importance of reading was always instilled in them.

“Basic reading is important for all students,” he added. “The basis of education is built on that. Because of that, we’ve chosen to do this as our contribution to the goal of children having success by age 6.”