Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is giving children in our area a headstart in reading thanks to the Carroll County Youth Literacy Rotary Foundation.
The program ships registered children from infant to under five years a free book from the Imagination Library every month without cost or obligation. The books come from a carefully curated set of 60 volumes beginning with a classic, The Little Engine That Could.
In order to serve the unique demographic makeup of communities in the eastern part of the county, the books are also available in Karen (Burmese), Marshallese, Hmong and Spanish. A braille version is in the works.
According to Carroll County Imagination Library board member Jodie English-Brown, the group is busy at public events and school registrations all around the county helping parents register their younger children in the program.
“We hope to engage more parents who don’t attend the events where we have information,” English-Brown said, “especially those who home school and may not know about this program. This is a wonderful opportunity for the little ones to look forward to a new book arriving in the mailbox every month and to have reading time with parents and older siblings.”
To register a child up to five years old anywhere in Carroll County, visit imaginationlibrary.org, email ccyouthliteracy@gmail.com or call (479) 244-9595. See more or message on Facebook page, Imagination Library Carroll County. The program continues until the child reaches age five or the family moves out of the county.
Another program available in Carroll County for two, three and four-year olds, is Parents as Teachers, or HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) from Ozarks Unlimited Resource Educational Service Cooperative in Harrison.
HIPPY is a two-year program that provides parents with 15 to 20-minute daily lesson to teach their child at home. Lesson contents include literacy, language, math, science and motor development. A trained Home Based Educator provides all lesson materials as well as crayons, glue, pencils, books, shapes and more.
Weekly home visits are made to assist parents with any question about lessons, and a monthly group meeting is available for parents and kids to connect and have fun. To enroll in Carroll County, phone Kriste Ledbetter (479) 363-4165.