Dolly's Imagination Library

I had the pleasure of taking part in the Pulpwood Queens' Girlfriend Weekend, Jan 13-16 in Jefferson, TX. To say I had fun is a gross understatement. I had a BALL, especially at the Great Big Ball of Hair Ball! (You'd have to be there)

Not only does founder, Kathy Louise Patrick of Beauty and the Book - a beauty salon/bookstore - support literacy and authors, she is hugely involved in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. There's nothing this dynamo won't do when it comes to reading!

And, a shout-out goes to my home county, Harrison/Corydon, Indiana!

The Harrison County Community Foundation is again offering a 2:1 match during the 2011 calendar year; this time to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program through the Early Readers Fund.

"The program will cost about $50,000 a year", reports executive director Steve Gilliland. "This double-match incentive is to recruit donor partners from the community to help us build an endowment that will perpetually fund the Imagination Library."

Joan and Pete Schickel quickly took advantage of the Foundation's offer. They provided nearly $25,000 in stock to become the lead private donor.

"Everyone knows how much we love children and our schools," says Joan. "Pete and I believe this program will help provide an appreciation for reading and give children a head start for kindergarten."

Please support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in your area. If your county doesn't have one, look into starting one!

Here's how:
A community must make the program accessible to all preschool children in their area. The community pays for the books and mailing, promotes the program, registers the children, and enters the information into the database.

From there The Dollywood Foundation takes over and manages the system to deliver the books to the home. You can find out more of the operational details on other pages in this website – so what are you waiting for! Hundreds of communities are providing books to hundreds of thousands of children.

Check out the Pulpwood Queens, Beauty & the Book and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library! Click Here

Harrison County Community Foundation

Mary Cunningham Books for 'Tweens

Of Thee I Sing - Barack Obama, Loren Long

About the author:

Barack Obama is the forty-fourth president of the United States. Born in Hawaii to a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya, he himself is now the father of two daughters, Malia and Sasha. It was spending time with them that inspired him to write Of Thee I Sing. After Barack Obama became president, he and his wife, Michelle, and their daughters moved into the White House in Washington, DC, where they currently live with their dog, Bo.

About the illustrator:

Loren Long is the bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator of many beloved books for children, including Drummer Boy and the New York Times bestseller Otis. Born in Missouri and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, he is also the illustrator of Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could, as well as Toy Boat, I Dream of Trains, and Wind Flyers. He lives in Ohio with his wife, Tracy, their two sons, Griffith and Graham, and their dogs, Elle and Moon.

About the book:

In this tender, beautiful letter to his daughters, President Barack Obama has written a moving tribute to thirteen groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation. From the artistry of Georgia O’Keeffe, to the courage of Jackie Robinson, to the patriotism of George Washington, President Obama sees the traits of these heroes within his own children, and within all of America’s children. This book was written before Barack Obama become President. All proceeds from the book’s sales go to a scholarship fund for military children with a parent who was killed or disabled.

Buy on Amazon

Mary Cunningham Books