Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library encourages early literacy

ASHTABULA – “Reading together is the #1 activity caregivers can do to prepare children for future success.”
That was the message during the Ashtabula County Community Action Agency’s 3rd annual Rise and Shine for Reading fundraiser breakfast on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Held at Head Start in Ashtabula, the fundraiser supported Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which mails children one high-quality, age-appropriate book each month until the child’s fifth birthday. All children – from birth to age five – in Ohio can sign up for the program at no cost. Families can enroll at OhioImaginationLibrary.org.
ACCAA Executive Director Alissa Holdson kicked off remarks at the breakfast, which celebrates early literacy.
“Our theme this year is ‘Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors,’” Holdson said. “The wonderful thing about the program is, income doesn’t matter.”
With Dolly Parton passing away earlier this year, Holdson said they wanted to be able to honor her.
Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Parton started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts millions of free books each month to children around the world.
“It reduces barriers to literacy by providing these books and inspiring a love of reading,” Holdson said of the program.
She said there’s something special about kids getting the book in the mail, in a package addressed to them.
“They’re so excited. They want to read their book,” Holdson said.
With the Imagination Library, “the reading just starts with this program. It helps to jumpstart that love of early literacy,” she said.
Holdson explained that in Ohio, the program is funded 50 percent by the State, and 50 percent by local program partners.
She thanked the sponsors for the program, including the first monthly book sponsor, the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. The books for Ashtabula County children in November are sponsored by the MHRS Board.
Breakfast sponsors were the Ashtabula Foundation, Ashtabula County Job & Family Services and the Fedeli Group.
Table sponsors were Ravenwood Health, Molded Fiber Glass Companies, Lakeview Federal Credit Union, ErieBank, the Kendall Foundation, Applied Energy, Fitzgibbons, Arnold & Co., Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County and Starting Point.
People who purchased an individual ticket for the breakfast sponsored books for one child for an entire year.
Holdson introduced speaker Camille Licate, author, environmental educator and founder of Kids for Positive Change.
In her remarks, Licate focused on the importance of early literacy.
“Literacy, reading and writing, is the right of every child,” Licate said. “Whether you’re 2, 52, or a 102, books add color to our lives. Books help children create rich inner and outer worlds. They allow them to surpass their circumstances and travel to distant lands, either real or imaginary.”
She talked about how books introduce children to ideas and new perspectives “and so, so many lessons.”
“They inspire children to dream, set goals,” Licate said.
She said books were one of her first and most cherished teachers.
“They were instrumental in fostering my love of nature and the natural world,” Licate said.
She talked about her struggles with reading at a young age, and how her uncle Ralph read a book to her every night. One of those books was “Be Nice to Spiders” by Margaret Bloy Graham, which Licate read an excerpt of. She also read an excerpt of “The Mitten” by Jan Brett and shared the premise of “We are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom.
“Books inspired me and continue to inspire me to take action,” Licate said.
With this very tech-filled world, Licate said, “It’s up to all of us to ensure that books are not shrinking but expanding in the lives of children.”
“We can do that by modeling reading books,” Licate said. “One of the best things we can do as adults is have children see us read a book. We can also, as my beloved uncle Ralph did so many years ago, read books to kids.”
She said helping kids to read gives them a great start to life.
Also at the breakfast, Holdson showed a video with remarks from Ashtabula County Commissioner Kathryn Whittington, who helped bring the program to Ashtabula County but was unable to attend the breakfast.
“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is truly making a difference in the lives of our children and families throughout Ashtabula County,” Whittington said.
She said Ashtabula County Community Action stepped up to take on the program in 2020.
“Since then, 7,188 children have been enrolled, and 198,841 books have been mailed to families throughout their county,” Whittington said.
She said the average cost per book is $2.60, including shipping.
“Ashtabula County commissioners and Ashtabula County Community Action remain committed to keeping the Imagination Library available to our children and families. Through community support and fundraising efforts like today’s event, we can continue bringing the gift of reading into homes across our county,” Whittington said. “As we celebrate Dolly Parton and her remarkable legacy, we are grateful to her generosity and her belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and dream big.”