Local Girl Brings Books to Lynn

When seventh-grader Madeline Pastan learned that some of the students at Ford School in Lynn didn't have any books at home, she began raising money to get them some.

As part of a "Celebration of Reading," Pastan traveled to Ford School Wednesday to present kindergartners there with the 100 children's books she purchased with money earned selling cupcakes and cookies.

She also read to students from her favorite children's book,"Kitten's First Full Moon," spoke to them about the importance of reading and handed out some of the delicious treats that helped her complete her Bat Mitzvah service project.

As a fifth and sixth-grader at Cohen Hillel, Pastan traveled with her classmates to the Lynn elementary school to read to first-graders as part of an educational partnership that recently .

During one of these visits, Pastan's mother said she asked one of the Ford students what their favorite book at home was and was shocked to learn that he didn't have any.

So, in an effort to provide some of the school's youngest students with free books, Madeline spent the last six months baking cupcakes and cookies and selling them at bake sales and at stores across Marblehead. 

Before she knew it, Pastan's project took off - she started to receive dozens of orders for her creations and local businesses began backing her cause.

Madeline's mother said stepped up to donate packaging labels and the owners of , , and allowed her to sell cupcakes and cookies to their customers.

By the end of the summer, Pastan had raised enough money to buy 100 books for the kindergartners, which Nancy Oliver, owner , sold her at a discount rate.