Hello, my name is Gary (Mr. Paustian) and I teach 5rd Grade at Central Elementary in Des Plaines, IL. One of the biggest joys of teaching is seeing a student fall in love with a book. But it’s not always easy to get the right book in the hands of the right reader. Some of my students are interested in books about animals, while others love sports. Some prefer stories about kindness, and others just want to read about a captain that wears underpants! Not only are my students interested in different things, but they also all read at different levels. I can only be the teacher I want to be if I can help my students become better readers. And the most effective way to do this is to fill my classroom library with a diverse collection of books across a variety of levels. This is why I’m asking my community to help me raise $300 for the Take Your Pick Grades 3-5 Collection. This collection will add 65 new books to our classroom library and help my students grow their reading skills. Thanks for reading!