By Karen Kelly | Special to the Times Vedette
The most exciting text message I received this week was from my daughter-in-law showing my one-month-old granddaughter with her new copy of “The Little Engine That Could,” which is the first book in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This is exciting news for two reasons. First, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library is one of the greatest programs ever, and second, the availability of books to children is a huge predictor of reading success.
For those who are not familiar with the Imagination Library, this program was started and funded by Dolly Parton as a way to honor her father, whom she describes as a bright man who felt his inability to read stunted his success. Parton, through her Dollywood Foundation, began this program, which provided each child born in Sevier County, TN, the opportunity to register for the Imagination Library. This means that each month that child would receive a package in the mail addressed to her or him containing an age-appropriate, hard-cover book.
This program was so successful that Tennessee has adopted and funded the program statewide. Because of its popularity and success, the program is also available not only in all 50 states, but internationally as well. In Audubon, Carroll, Greene and Guthrie Counties, this program is funded by Partnerships 4 Families; any preschool child residing in these counties can register and receive a monthly book until they start kindergarten at absolutely no cost to the family. Sign-up can be done online at the Imagination Library website, https://imaginationlibrary.com/, or by stopping into the MJB Library for sign-up assistance.
This program does many things to promote early literacy. While researching how to prevent summer reading slide, the availability of books was one of the most important ways to prevent losing reading gains over the summer. For that reason, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a gift that keeps on giving since it provides the beginnings of a child’s personal library. MJB Library is proud to partner with Partnerships 4 Families to promote the availability in our area.
Because accessibility to books is so vital to reading readiness and promoting literacy with older students, the MJB Library is excited to be hosting the Summer Reading Program (SRP) for June. We are encouraging parents to sign up their kids to attend our almost daily SRP events, in hopes to inspire their children to keep a reading log and turn it in for a chance to win prizes.
In addition to the SRP, the library is partnering with the Masonic Lodge Orange Lodge No. 123 to offer Bikes for Books. The Masonic Lodge will donate a bicycle to be awarded at the beginning of August. Students pre-K- through sixth grade who submit a reading log will earn one drawing ticket for each book read between June 1 and July 31.
To help the children in your life avoid losing the average 20% of school-year gains in reading over the summer, there are other opportunities to promote literacy through the summer. Barnes and Noble, Half Price Books, Chuck E. Cheese and Pizza Hut all offer summer reading incentive programs. Stop by the library to see our list of summer reading programs in the youth area.
Additionally, families can use the MJB Library website to access a number of educational websites and online experiences to provide kids with fun educational activities. Check out other websites like the American Library Association, Reading is Fundamental, Reading Rockets and Scholastic to find activities and book lists.
Remember, the library provides reading materials, audiobooks, puzzles, books and games for checkout. Monday through Saturday, the library is open to provide children a safe space to read, play and learn.
Library card holders who are 18 or older are able to use their library card for free admission to educational and fun places, using the Iowa Adventure Pass. One of those venues, the Blank Park Zoo, is a resource close to home, providing exhibits of more than 800 creatures as well as many daily programs to allow children to participate and learn.
The Science Center of Iowa is another venue that provides exhibits, experiments and attractions for all ages that participates in the Iowa Adventure Pass. The newest venue included in the adventure pass is the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn; this museum offers free admission to up to four individuals per day. Considered the best place to learn about Scandinavian contributions to Iowa, its mission is to celebrate “Danish roots and American dreams.” In addition to the permanent exhibits, the outdoor fitness equipment and the recreational trail, visitors find the Thomas Dambo Trolls hidden close by the museum.
Check the library website and bulletin board for upcoming events for youth, adults and families. This week, Anne Riordan with the Guthrie County DNR will present a program at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 11. Story Hour begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 12, and will feature stories and a craft about dinosaurs. On Monday, June 15, at 4 p.m., youth of all ages are invited to join the fun at Creation Stations, where a variety of creative activities will be available.
At LEGO Mania Day, the summer reading challenge was to create 3D images of flowers or plants.
These young readers show off their finished craft project. The created butterflies which are important pollinators.