By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — Dave Eubanks has sounded the bell on the final push for the Jingle Books campaign to combat illiteracy.

The Coeur d'Alene School Board member and co-founder of the book drive that gives every kindergartner through third-grader in the district the opportunity to take home — and keep — six new or gently used books before the Christmas break said the program is halfway toward its goal of 25,000 books.

"We need some help," Eubanks said. "It's beautiful to watch kids pick out the books, which they don't have to bring back."

Students will pick out their books during the week of Dec. 11 before the break.

New or gently-used book donations can be dropped off at any school in the Coeur d'Alene district, the district office or any Domino's Pizza in the Coeur d'Alene-Hayden area. Donated books should be appropriate for children from ages 5 to 8.

Monetary donations can be sent to the district office in care of Jingle Books at 1400 N. Northwood Center Court, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

Also, starting today, $5 for every Christmas tree purchase at the Funny Farm, 5924 Clemetson Road in Cougar Gulch, will be donated to Jingle Books. Eubanks owns the farm.

Books are purchased from a warehouse in Spokane.

"Every penny raised is used to buy books," Eubanks said. "There is no overhead."

Jingle Books, co-founded by Eubanks and Greta Gissel, is in its fourth year. It collected 85,000 books during its first three years. Eubanks said the program is not based on need and many students can't believe that they don't have to return the books.

"Kids learn to read in kindergarten through third grade, but once they're in fourth they read to learn," said Eubanks, referring to why the program targets the early grades. "If you're not proficient at reading by the end of third grade, you'll find yourself struggling starting in the fourth grade.

"If you don't have any books to practice on at home, it makes it harder (to become proficient)."

Eubanks said if kids are struggling in fourth grade, that can increase the chances of dropping out, getting into trouble, not finding a job and other issues.

"Literacy is the most important thing we teach by far, particularly in the 21st century," he said.

Last year, 45,000 books were collected and the program included the Post Falls, Lakeland and Plummer-Worley school districts.

"We've pared it back this year because it was a little overwhelming last year," said Eubanks, adding that some areas plan to hold a similar drive in the spring.