Look no further than the Give the Gift of Reading Book Drive at Whitehall District Schools.

From Nov. 26 until Dec. 21 Whitehall District Schools will be collecting new or gently used children’s books in an effort to grow classroom libraries at both Shoreline and Ealy elementary schools.

With the addition of six new elementary school teachers this year, along with the adaptation of a workshop-based program of reading instruction, and the switch to self-contained classrooms at Ealy Elementary School, many teachers are in need of additional books for their classrooms.

“We are in need of picture books in the lower grades and quality chapter books for upper elementary school readers,” explained Amy Burton-Major, principal at Ealy Elementary School. “Both parents and teachers at our PTO meeting mentioned that many parents probably had collections of children’s books at home that they are no longer using, and that sparred the idea for the book drive.”

Donated books should be in a gently used condition, without rips, missing pages, water or smoke damage. They can be delivered to classroom teachers during the drive and then they will be leveled and appropriated to classroom libraries by both parent and teacher volunteers. Books for the drive will also be accepted at White Lake Community Library or The Book Nook & Java Shop in Montague.

The book drive is also in need of corporate or local business sponsors who may like to make tax deductible donations to the book drive prior to the end of the 2012 fiscal year.