The Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library

March 14, 2022

Partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, mails kids one free book each month until their 5th birthday

The Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library

Guest column from Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine: Thank you, NFIB Ohio, for allowing me to share information about the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library. The Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library, in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, mails kids one free book each month until their 5th birthday. Any child in Ohio between birth to age 5—regardless of their zip code—can enroll in the program at no cost to their family. Children enrolled in the program are mailed one new book each month that’s age-appropriate. Newborns receive board books, while toddlers receive books with more complex storylines. The Imagination Library is a diverse collection of books, selected by a panel of literacy experts each year. This year, the collection includes a few books written and illustrated by Ohioans, including There’s a Hole in the Log at the Bottom of the Lake by Loren Long.

At the end of 2021, we celebrated having more than 300,000 kids enrolled in the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library. Ohio is one of 12 states with a statewide program, and now has more kids enrolled in the Imagination Library than any other state’s program! In 2022, I’m hopeful even more families will take advantage of this great program. My goal is to have over 50% of kids in Ohio receiving these books—and you can help us reach that goal! Currently, Ohio has more than 309,000 kids each month receiving a book. That’s about 44% of kids under the age of 5 in Ohio. You can help us reach our goal by signing up your kids; telling your family, friends, and neighbors about the program; and promoting the program as a resource that’s available for your employees’ families and customers. To learn more about partnership opportunities, please contact Catherine Sulecki at Catherine.Sulecki@ohgil.org. We know that these books are making a difference in each child’s life. They are preparing kids for kindergarten and giving families another opportunity to read and learn together. You can enroll your kids in the Imagination Library today by visiting: OhioImaginationLibrary.org. Thank you for your support in promoting childhood literacy throughout our great state. Fran DeWine, First Lady of Ohio Additional Resources: Enrollment by County, and Local Imagination Library Partners Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Leads to Higher Kindergarten Readiness in Cleveland, Study Finds (Cleveland.com) 2022 Book Listing

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Ohio

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