This was the third year teacher Ron Gordon and wife, Linda "Belgium" Gordon, have bought thousands of Klutz children's books on discount and given them out as Christmas presents to low-income families.

Gordon said he didn't know exactly how much money he spent this year on books, which were distributed through city agencies to children in Oakland, East Palo Alto and Daly City. "We just skip McDonald's a few times, and we're doing this," he explained.

New Klutz titles cost $15 to $20, but Gordon said he can get a large box of almost-new books for $10.

Oakland Fire Captain Bob Young said he picked up about 2,500 of Gordon's books this year -- as many as could fit in his van. The books went to the fire department's annual toy drive and to the Cosmopolitan Baptist Church on 85th Avenue.

Klutz publishes many "how-to" books for teenagers, including books on juggling and magic, art and drawing and braiding hair.

"It was just an amazing amount of books that (Gordon) and his wife were able to donate," Young said. "It's a very generous effort on their part. Of course, my back was killing me after loading the van by myself."

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