Three quarters of the Borders stores in Michigan will host a book drive from Aug. 1 through Sept. 7 to benefit local children. The stores will collect new children’s books purchased by customers and provide them to Reach Out & Read. The organization promotes early literacy by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud in pediatric exam rooms throughout Michigan.

Doctors and nurses know that growing up healthy means growing up with books. The ROR program provides the tools to help promote children’s developmental skills and later school success. Some of the popular books customers can donate include Dr. Suess favorites, board books for babies and children’s picture books, or they can donate their favorite books for children 6 months through 5 years of age.

During previous book drives at Borders, customers have donated such books as “Barnyard Dance,” “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” “Guess How Much I Love You,” “Goodnight Moon,” “The Foot Book” and “Hop On Pop.”