Sioux Empire United Way - Agency Success Stories

Opening Up the Joy of Reading
Program: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Service: Local children age birth to five can sign up to receive a carefully selected, developmentally appropriate book mailed in the child’s name and delivered to their home each month. Over 8,000 children in Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha and Turner counties received books in 2006. Need: Parents who were given books are four times more likely to read to their children. 35% of children arrive at kindergarten unprepared. Impact: The Imagination Library encourages an early love of reading. In fact, the single most important activity for building knowledge required for success in reading and academics is reading aloud to children. We are preparing our children to find success in school and in their futures.	A two year old girl with wild brown curly hair lies on the kitchen linoleum engrossed by an open book. “Hi Gabby,” her mother Julie sweetly sings. The young girls bright eyes turn from the book to her mother. “Got a new book,” she says as she stands and runs to her mother. “ Myyyyyy book.” Julie puts down her work bag and moves around the kitchen gathering items for dinner. Gabby is on her heals holding the book out and repeatedly saying, “read it, read it, read it.” “Okay, okay,” Julie says grabbing Gabby and placing her on her lap. “Once upon a time there were three pigs. One lived in a straw house, one lived … the end.” Julie softly closes the book and Gabby reaches to open it back up. “Again, again. Read it again” Julie takes a deep breath and starts again, “Once upon …” Thanks to Sioux Empire United Way, over 8,000 children receive books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library every month, helping them develop reading skills and encouraging an early love of reading. Helping parents like Julie open the joy of reading to their children, “I never have to worry about picking the right books. The Imagination Library can be my guide. My daughter is only 2 ½, and she already loves to read.”
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