Thank you, Dolly Parton!

That's right! You read that correctly. The Bouldin House sends out thanks to Dolly Parton. She of country music singing fame started a program back in 1996 called "Imagination Library." Here in Knox County, the Imagination Library partners with the Knox County Public Library. We signed Julia up as soon as we got home from the hospital. That means that from now until she turns five years old, Julia receives a brand-new, age-appropriate book in the mail every month. FOR FREE!

Yesterday, Julia's first book, The Little Engine That Could, came in the mail. (This is the first book that every child signed up for the program receives.) While she wasn't all that interested in it right then, I'm sure she'll enjoy listening to us read it to her and then reading it herself.

The Imagination Library is available in 90 of 95 counties in Tennessee and has spread to other communities in thirty-six states as well as on up into our friendly neighbor to the North, Canada. Last year the program mailed out over 2 million books to over 200,000 children! That's a program that warms my book-loving heart! If it is not available in your community, there is a link on the website with information on how to get it started.