Free book every month for country’s 3,000 looked after children

Scotland’s looked after children are to receive a free book every month until their fifth birthday thanks to a new partnership with country and western superstar Dolly Parton.

The Dollywood Foundation has been working nine to five with the Scottish Government and Scottish Book Trust to bring the Imagination Library to Scotland.

Each of the country’s 3,341 looked after children under five will build up their own personal library of up to 60 books, improving their literacy and encouraging their parents and carers to read with them.

Dolly Parton said:

“I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful effort. When I started the Imagination Library in my hometown, I never dreamed that one day we would be helping Scottish kids. Much of my music has been inspired by Scotland so it’s only right that we are now in a position to bring more joy into the lives of the nation’s looked after children.

“From the bottom of my country heart, I want to thank the Scottish Government and the Scottish Book Trust for asking us to be part of something so special.”

Children’s Minister Adam Ingram said:

“We already know how important the early years in life are for a child’s development and this point was emphatically reinforced last week in Susan Deacon’s report. The right support and care can make a real difference to children’s future health, well-being and attainment, and it is particularly important to ensure looked after children get the same help so they can enjoy the same life chances as their peers. Research also shows that children whose parents and carers talk to them frequently have better language skills than those who do not and that the presence of books in the home can have an important impact on long term achievement. That is one of the underlying principles of our Play Talk Read campaign.

“I want to thank Dolly Parton and the Imagination Library for working with us to develop this national early intervention scheme and enabling our youngest looked after children to discover the joy of reading and the wider benefits this can bring.”

The Imagination Library has been rolled out around the world but this will be the first time it has been introduced across one country at the same time.