COEUR d'ALENE - This holiday season, give the gift that never stops giving: literacy.

The "Jingle Books" book drive campaign, beginning Monday, is dedicated to placing books in the hands of Coeur d'Alene School District students from kindergarten through third grade. The program is devoted to promoting reading proficiency by the end of third grade, which Jingle Books coordinator Greta Gissel of Coeur d'Alene said is a milestone age for young readers.

"Kids learn to read though the third grade and when they exit the third grade and enter the fourth grade, they are expected to read to learn," Gissel said. "If kids who exit third grade are not proficient readers, they tend to struggle in the fourth and higher."

Collection boxes will be placed in community establishments such as schools, libraries, chambers of commerce, district offices and businesses where people can donate new and gently used books. Age-appropriate books are requested to help foster a love of reading and allow the children who receive them to be interested in the topic.

Students will be able to choose their books during the distribution days, which are scheduled for the third week of December in local elementary schools. Book lists for appropriate choices can be requested from Karen Yother at the Hayden Library.

"The best way to promote literacy is for our kids to choose a book they want to read, something that interests them," Gissel said, adding that a little girl who is interested in pink princesses most likely won't choose a book on mud or dinosaurs. She referred to these as "good-fit books." When young readers find something they're interested in, she said, they will learn more and push through tough words because they genuinely want to read the book.

"Reading is so vastly important," she said.

Gissel, and long-time educator and school board member David Eubanks of Coeur d'Alene, dreamed up the concept of Jingle Books because they were brainstorming how to keep kids reading during the winter months. This is the first year for the program.

"He and I share a passion for kids being grade-level readers," Gissel said. "He's the bigwig and I'm just the volunteer who wants to help kids read. Dave's an incredible man."

Gissel said her personal goal is to see that every K-3 child in the school district receives a book this holiday season, either through Jingle Books or through parents and families giving their children books as gifts. Title 1 teachers, librarians and volunteers will sort the donated books to ensure they are properly organized by reading level. Students may even see a few colorful elf characters helping with the project.

"The important thing is that anyone can contribute to Jingle Books," Gissel said.

Financial donations to Jingle Books are also welcome. Direct financial contributions can be made to Learning Life Company, a 501(c)(3) company, at: Learning Life Company c/o Jingle Books, 2900 N. Government Way #51, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815.

For information, call Gissel at 819-8345 or email greta.gissel@gmail.com.