Governor Abigail Spanberger marked September 25 — Dolly Day — by celebrating Dolly Parton's work to promote youth reading across Virginia and sharing a few of her daughters' favorite Imagination Library books.
"Putting a book in a child's hand is only the first step. The real magic happens when we open those books and when we read them together," Spanberger said. "Reading helps children hear new words, it builds their vocabulary and strengthens early literacy skills. And most importantly, it helps them develop a love of reading that can last a lifetime."
Spanberger said Parton believed every child should grow up surrounded by books and wanted to inspire every child to read. That belief inspired Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a book gifting program that mails age-appropriate, quality books directly to children from birth through age five, regardless of their family's income.
Founded by Parton in 1995, Virginia's Imagination Library program currently serves more than 86,000 children across the Commonwealth and has delivered three million books since Virginia began participating in the program.
The Governor also released a video celebrating Dolly Day and encouraging youth reading.