Dolly Parton might seem an unlikely subject for this blog, but she has a strong interest in literacy and, in the past, has said her desire to promote childhood reading arose out of seeing how illiteracy disadvantaged her own family. Her Imagination Library originated in her hometown, Sevier County, Tennessee, in 1995 and has since spread around the world, resulting in around 30 million books being mailed to children. It arrived in the UK in Rotherham in 2007 and spread to Wigtown the following year. Now, a new partnership between Parton’s Dollywood Foundation, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Book Trust will result in over 3000 looked after children benefiting from a free book every month until their fifth birthday, and parents and carers will be encouraged to read with them.
Read the Scottish government's press release, information from Scottish Book Trust and reports from the BBC and the Herald for more information.
Does seem a bit of an odd combination, but what a wonderful program.
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