Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library launches in Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Office of Childhood launched the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library on Wednesday.

Missouri parents can now register their child to get a free book every month from birth to 5 years old.

Missouri is the 14th state to commit to a statewide program, and the first to launch the program with full funding and statewide eligibility on the first day, according to a Wednesday press release from DESE. According to DESE, the budget for this program is about $11 million.

"The importance of those pre-literacy skills and families understanding the child's development and that exposure to book, really fostering that love of reading at a young age is very important for school readiness," Pam Thomas, of DESE's Office of Childhood, said.

According to DESE's website, Missouri schools are slightly behind the national average on reading test scores.

If parents sign up for this program this month, their child will get their first book in January. Parents can sign up on the Imagination Library's website, according to the release. There is no deadline to sign up, according to the release.