Foundation Seeks to Grow Free Book Program

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a remarkable program and pet project of music legend Dolly Parton. Created as an homage to her father, who never learned how to read, The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a vehicle to get literary resources into the hands of parents and young children. If you live in the Troy (PA) School District, the Foundation partnership covers the cost.

Qualifications:

· Child must live in the Troy (PA) Area School District

· The program is for children from birth to the age of 5.

· You will receive a new book every month until your child turns 5.

· If you have multiple children, you can register all of them and they will receive age appropriate books

· The books are recognized literary classics such as: The Little Engine That Could and Dolly’s own “Look out Kindergarten, Here I come” as well as other well known children’s classics.

Why Invest in Early Literacy?

1. Ninety percent of physical brain development occurs in the first three years of life, when a baby forms over 1 million new neural connections per second.

2. When a young child enters kindergarten ready for school, there is an 82% chance that the child will master basic skills by age 11, compared with a 45% chance for children who are not school-ready.

3. Later in life, at-risk children who do not receive high- quality early childhood experiences are 25% more likely to drop out of school. 40% more likely to become teen parents and 60% less likely to attend college.

4. Investment in high-quality early childhood programs for at-risk children from birth to age five delivers a 7-10% annual return on investment through improved education, health, social and economic outcomes, increased productivity and the reduced need for social spending.

Having books in the home is crucial for a child’s academic, social, and emotional development. Reading together fosters a unique bond between children and their parents or caregivers. The Imagination Library extends this impact globally by providing books to children worldwide, free of charge, nurturing their minds and hearts.

The Foundation is trying to reach the parents, teachers and other caregivers of children living in the District in order to increase enrollment. You can assist by sharing this information to your family and friends.

More information and registration forms are found on our website at: https://www.troypaschoolfoundation.org/dpil