An Apple A Day (AAAD) is a universal literacy-based program that helps to build and reinforce resiliency skills for substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion in children in kindergarten through 4th grade. Based on the principles of risk and resilience, AAAD focuses on the following concepts: (1) literacy; (2) personal sense of safety; (3) development of positive friendships; (4) self-esteem, self-respect, and self-efficacy; and (5) awareness of the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. To introduce each of these concepts, AAAD uses age-appropriate trade books, writing exercises, music, hands-on activities, role-playing, and brainstorming activities that engage the children in an interactive learning process. It also uses a curriculum that includes an instructional video, lesson plans, book summaries, student journal pages, drug fact sheets, sample letters to parents, evaluation tools, a resource guide, and book lists. In addition, participants receive incentives (e.g., stickers, pencils, erasers), which serve as reminders of the information and concepts presented, as well as three free books during the school year or two free books during the summer.