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Scotland's looked after children are to receive a free book every month until their fifth birthday thanks to a new partnership with country and western superstar Dolly Parton.
The Dollywood Foundation has been working nine to five with the Scottish Government and Scottish B ook Trust to bring the Imagination Library to Scotland.
Each of the country's 3,341 looked after children under five will build up their own personal library of up to 60 books, improving their literacy and encouraging their parents and carers to read with them.
Dolly Parton said:
"I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful effort. When I started the Imagination Library in my hometown, I never dreamed that one day we would be helping Scottish kids.
"Much of my music has been inspired by Scotland so it's only right that we are now in a position to bring more joy into the lives of the nation's looked after children.
"From the bottom of my country heart, I want to thank the Scottish Government and the Scottish Book Trust for asking us to be part of something so special."
Children's Minister Adam Ingram said:
"We already know how important the early years in life are for a child's development and this point was emphatically reinforced last week in Susan Deacon's report. The right support and care can make a real difference to children's future health, well-being and attainment, and it is particularly important to ensure looked after children get the same help so they can enjoy the same life chances as their peers.
"Research also shows that children whose parents and carers talk to them frequently have better language skills than those who do not and that the presence of books in the home can have an important impact on long term achievement. That is one of the underlying principles of our Play Talk Read campaign.
"I want to thank Dolly Parton and the Imagination Library for working with us to develop this national early intervention scheme and enabling our youngest looked after children to discover the joy of reading and the wider benefits this can bring."
The Imagination Library has been rolled out around the world but this will be the first time it has been introduced across one country at the same time.
Marc Lambert, Chief Executive of Scottish Book Trust, which currently runs the successful Bookbug book gifting programme with the Scottish Government, said:
"We are really delighted to be working together with Dolly Parton's excellent Imagination Library and the Scottish Government to create this new provision across Scotland which complements and deepens the impact of the Bookbug programme.
"It's a real first for the UK that has come about because we all share the same strong values and are determined to make a fundamental contribution to the lives and prospects of all children in Scotland, especially those who are looked after. Literacy, reading and above all access to quality books are some of the key building blocks in the early years which help lead to fulfilling and productive lives, which is exactly why this innovative initiative is so important and worthwhile."
The books for the Imagination Library programme will be selected by an independent committee of experts in the field of childhood development, literacy and education, with a Scottish expert set to join the panel later this year
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was developed in 1995 by Dolly for her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee. She wanted to give every pre-school child their own library of books. The scheme was such a success that other communities asked to join and it has now gone on to become an award-winning international programme. Around 30 million books have now been mailed to children in over 1300 communities across the world
The scheme began in the UK in Rotherham in December 2007 and now operates in a dozen areas, delivering books to more than 15,000 children every month. However, this is the first scheme to run on a national basis, purely for looked after children.
Research has shown that the presence of books in the home is the most important factor in determining long term achievement. A recent study by Nevada University concluded that access to a wide range of books at home can significantly boost children's chances of remaining in education, and subsequently improve their economic prospects.
The Scottish Book Trust is already working with local authorities in Scotland to provide Bookbug packs for babies and children at four key intervals between birth and five. The Imagination Library will complement and add value to Bookbug by providing additional resources between those intervals and ensuring that every book is delivered to looked after children, even if they experience multiple address changes in the first five years.
There is a set cost of £2 per book which includes postage and packaging costs. The Scottish Government will meet these costs through a grant to the Scottish Book Trust. The Dollywood Foundation will handle the ordering, labelling and registration process so that each child receives the right book for their age.
The Dollywood Foundation has been working nine to five with the Scottish Government and Scottish B ook Trust to bring the Imagination Library to Scotland.
Each of the country's 3,341 looked after children under five will build up their own personal library of up to 60 books, improving their literacy and encouraging their parents and carers to read with them.
Dolly Parton said:
"I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful effort. When I started the Imagination Library in my hometown, I never dreamed that one day we would be helping Scottish kids.
"Much of my music has been inspired by Scotland so it's only right that we are now in a position to bring more joy into the lives of the nation's looked after children.
"From the bottom of my country heart, I want to thank the Scottish Government and the Scottish Book Trust for asking us to be part of something so special."
Children's Minister Adam Ingram said:
"We already know how important the early years in life are for a child's development and this point was emphatically reinforced last week in Susan Deacon's report. The right support and care can make a real difference to children's future health, well-being and attainment, and it is particularly important to ensure looked after children get the same help so they can enjoy the same life chances as their peers.
"Research also shows that children whose parents and carers talk to them frequently have better language skills than those who do not and that the presence of books in the home can have an important impact on long term achievement. That is one of the underlying principles of our Play Talk Read campaign.
"I want to thank Dolly Parton and the Imagination Library for working with us to develop this national early intervention scheme and enabling our youngest looked after children to discover the joy of reading and the wider benefits this can bring."
The Imagination Library has been rolled out around the world but this will be the first time it has been introduced across one country at the same time.
Marc Lambert, Chief Executive of Scottish Book Trust, which currently runs the successful Bookbug book gifting programme with the Scottish Government, said:
"We are really delighted to be working together with Dolly Parton's excellent Imagination Library and the Scottish Government to create this new provision across Scotland which complements and deepens the impact of the Bookbug programme.
"It's a real first for the UK that has come about because we all share the same strong values and are determined to make a fundamental contribution to the lives and prospects of all children in Scotland, especially those who are looked after. Literacy, reading and above all access to quality books are some of the key building blocks in the early years which help lead to fulfilling and productive lives, which is exactly why this innovative initiative is so important and worthwhile."
The books for the Imagination Library programme will be selected by an independent committee of experts in the field of childhood development, literacy and education, with a Scottish expert set to join the panel later this year
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was developed in 1995 by Dolly for her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee. She wanted to give every pre-school child their own library of books. The scheme was such a success that other communities asked to join and it has now gone on to become an award-winning international programme. Around 30 million books have now been mailed to children in over 1300 communities across the world
The scheme began in the UK in Rotherham in December 2007 and now operates in a dozen areas, delivering books to more than 15,000 children every month. However, this is the first scheme to run on a national basis, purely for looked after children.
Research has shown that the presence of books in the home is the most important factor in determining long term achievement. A recent study by Nevada University concluded that access to a wide range of books at home can significantly boost children's chances of remaining in education, and subsequently improve their economic prospects.
The Scottish Book Trust is already working with local authorities in Scotland to provide Bookbug packs for babies and children at four key intervals between birth and five. The Imagination Library will complement and add value to Bookbug by providing additional resources between those intervals and ensuring that every book is delivered to looked after children, even if they experience multiple address changes in the first five years.
There is a set cost of £2 per book which includes postage and packaging costs. The Scottish Government will meet these costs through a grant to the Scottish Book Trust. The Dollywood Foundation will handle the ordering, labelling and registration process so that each child receives the right book for their age.
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