In the state of Colorado, the influence of Dolly Parton's literacy-driven initiative continues to burgeon as Governor Jared Polis, alongside a beloved children's book character, Llama Llama, and Dr. Lisa Roy from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, celebrated a remarkable milestone, delivering the program's two millionth book to a young learner at Westwood Early Learning Center, according to Colorado Governor's Office.
The Imagination Library, started by the iconic entertainer in 1995 and brought to Colorado's budding readers in 2020, operates under a simple yet profound premise, sending free, thoughtfully selected books to children from birth up until they turn five, cultivating an early appetite for the written word and fostering developmental milestones in literacy every month, and just a year later Governor Polis has expressed his excitement in delivering the 2 millionth book to Colorado children, bolstering the literary landscape for future generations.
Understanding the bedrock of early literacy and its rippling effects on a child's educational trajectory, Dr. Lisa Roy emphasized the program's impact, stating, "Early literacy is critical for a child's cognitive development," and "By fostering a love of reading early on, we set children up for lifelong success," while Governor Polis vouched for the power of literature in shaping the minds of young readers, declaring, "Books are our windows into the world, and access to literature for children is a great way to improve reading, and inspire the next generation of poets, authors, and literary geniuses," as obtained by Colorado Governor's Office.
The statewide expansion, ratified in July 2020 through the signing of SB20-185 by Gov. Polis, anchored the Imagination Library in Colorado while broadening its reach to support children in all ZIP codes across the state, a development that has enabled the program to thrive and span 30 separate programs blanketing portions of all 64 counties within the state, providing resources and fostering a passion for reading among the youth where such a flame is essential for the continuance of a literate, engaged society.
