A milestone in early childhood education was celebrated this week in Vernon Hills with the official launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Lake County.
More than 30 people representing a dozen Lake County school districts were among those attending the event by the Lake County Regional Office of Education Foundation.
Dolly was there for inspiration and photo opportunities in the form of a lifelike cutout. But the event focused on how her library can help kids get off to a running start to their education. The initiative provides free books to children from birth to age 5 — regardless of the family’s income — to encourage a love of reading as a strong foundation for lifelong learning, supporters say.
“Access to books at an early age is one of the most effective ways to build literacy skills and prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond,” said Michael Karner, Lake County regional superintendent of schools.
The Imagination Library isn’t a brick-and-mortar project but a collaborative. Each month, a high-quality, age-appropriate book is mailed to children’s homes at no cost to participating families. The books are meant to foster early learning skills, help close literacy gaps and promote educational equity, supporters say.
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