Gov. Phil Bredesen is urging communities across the state to celebrate the benefits of books for young children during the third annual Imagination Library Week in Tennessee this week.

"Now that one out of every two eligible children in Tennessee is registered in this important pre-kindergarten literacy program, I recognize there are still many more families with young children left to reach," said Bredesen.

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201,000 kids getting free books; governor visits Knoxville to boost Imagination Library program

From Staff Reports
Originally published: September 18. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: September 17. 2008 9:37PM

KNOXVILLE — Gov. Phil Bredesen is urging communities across the state to celebrate the benefits of books for young children during the third annual Imagination Library Week in Tennessee this week.

"Now that one out of every two eligible children in Tennessee is registered in this important pre-kindergarten literacy program, I recognize there are still many more families with young children left to reach," Bredesen said.

The governor was at Market Square in Knoxville Wednesday to present books and read to children.

The cost of delivering 12 hardback books to one child is $28 annually, split evenly between each county's nonprofit sponsoring organization and a state budgetary allocation administered by the Governor's Books from Birth Foundation.

The Maryville Kiwanis Foundation is the lead organization for Imagination Library in Blount County. Over 4,000 children are currently signed up and more are enrolling every day.

Created in 1996 by singer Dolly Parton in her hometown of Sevierville, the Imagination Library mails a new, age-appropriate, hardcover book every month to registered children from birth to age 5 -- at no cost to the family and regardless of income.

A committee of childhood education experts selects the books for the Imagination Library, which includes such beloved classics as "The Little Engine That Could," "The Snowy Day," "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," and "Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten."

Any child in Tennessee under age 5 can be registered for the Imagination Library. Fifty-four percent of the state's eligible population -- over 201,000 -- is currently registered in the program and will receive a free book in October.

To learn more about the Imagination Library program, or for information on how to register a child, visit www.Gov ernorsFoundation.org online or call toll-free, 1-877-99-BOOKS.