STOCKTON, CA — Vice Mayor Jason Lee and Tiffany Haddish celebrated Read Across America by bringing literacy, inspiration, and community connection to South Stockton schools and libraries.
They read Haddish’s children’s book, Layla, The Last Black Unicorn, to students. The story follows a young Black unicorn who struggles to fit in at school and learns that her individuality is her greatest strength. Students reacted with lively questions and personal stories about their own dreams.
Vice Mayor Lee read at August Knodt Elementary in Weston Ranch. Haddish read at Aspire Secondary Academy in Sierra Vista. Afterward, they donated Layla and other books to Van Buren Library, Maya Angelou Library, and Weston Ranch Library, giving children and families in Stockton ongoing access to reading.
“When we put books in a child’s hands, we put possibility in their future,” Vice Mayor Lee said, emphasizing the importance of representation and access. “In a time when so many of our children are navigating identity and belonging, stories like Layla remind them that being different is not a weakness — it’s a superpower.”
Haddish, who has channeled her comedic energy into children’s storytelling, told students she was thrilled to meet them and urged them to dream boldly.
During each visit, students shared ambitions — from becoming doctors and entrepreneurs to artists, athletes, and community leaders — and engaged in spirited discussion about creativity and perseverance.
Educators and administrators applauded the event, noting that seeing a high-profile author and entertainer in the classroom reinforces the value of literacy. School staff also praised the practical support of book donations and the district’s coordination in providing transportation and outreach to help families participate. By bringing together a civic leader raised in Stockton’s foster system and a celebrity author who champions stories of identity and resilience, organizers emphasized that reading opens doors and that every child’s unique story deserves to be valued.
After distributing books to several libraries, Lee and Haddish left Stockton, hoping young readers would return to those pages often and carry Layla’s lesson of confidence into their futures.
