LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Fayette Education Foundation announced the distribution of over 25,000 books to children from birth through age 5 as part of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The books have been distributed in every zip code in Fayette County over the course of six months.

Children in the program receive a free, high-quality book in the mail every month. Over 5,100 Fayette County children already are enrolled in the program in the first six months of the program, which is 73% more than anticipated.

“More than 50% of children enter Fayette County Public Schools not ready for kindergarten,” said Carrie Boling, executive director of the Fayette Education Foundation. She said the program helps prepare children to enter school ready to learn.

The Fayette County Education Foundation shared the Imagination Library is having a special opportunity to celebrate giving away over 200 million books since its inception in 1995. Families enrolled by July 31 will have the chance to receive one of seven unique Dolly bookmarks.

The bookmarks will be randomly hidden inside Imagination Library books gifted during International Literacy Month in September. Children must be enrolled by July 31, 2023 to receive books through the program in September.

The seven families who find the Dolly bookmarks in the Imagination Library books will receive four Dollywood Theme Park tickets, a video chat with Parton, a personalized signed letter and an autographed photo. The Dollywood Foundation will also donate $2,000 on behalf of the child to the Local Imagination Library Partner in that community.

The program spans five countries and provides 2.4 million free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to children around the world. It is open to all children under age 5 who live in areas with the program.

“Early literacy is the foundation upon which we build a lifelong love for learning in children birth to 5,” said Whitney Stevenson, director of early childhood for Fayette County Public Schools.

To enroll your child in the free book program, visit the library website. You can also sponsor a child in Fayette County to receive one book per month for five years at the cost of $85.