Dolly Parton ‘referred to as The Book Lady’
While many people may know of Dolly Parton due to her hugely successful musical hits, unusual Dollywood theme park or bubbly personality, about 13,000 children in Rotherham know her as The Book Lady.
Her Imagination Library started out in the US, mailing free books to 2,300 youngsters each month by 1999 but has since spread to Canada and the UK, giving out literature to 700,000 kids.
The first British council to sign up to the scheme was Rotherham and now a huge number of children in the area are part of the programme, reported the Guardian.
Elizabeth Smith, whose son Aaron is one of them, told the publication that reading the books has become part of his daily routine.
She said: "When the postman comes Aaron runs to check, and if there is a book he wants me to open it straight away. The books have been a wonderful way to bond."
The Imagination Library is organised by Parton's Dollywood Foundation, which was established in 1996.
