Members in Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC)'s Oklahoma service area will soon be able to sign their child/children up to receive a free book once a month from birth until their fifth birthday. TCEC has partnered with the Dolly Parton Foundation and the Oklahoma State Department of Education to be your local affiliate, bringing the Imagination Library to the Panhandle. Dolly Parton and TCEC believe that you can do anything, dream anything, and be anything if you can read. Through Dolly's Imagination Library program, she wants to ensure all children have books at home, regardless of the environment in which they grow up.
"Before we can sign families up for the program, we are waiting for approval of our mailing permit," said JuliAnn Graham, TCEC communications manager. "This could take several more weeks. We wanted to let members know we're bringing the program to our area as part of our commitment to community. It will take a little time, is all."
How It Works
Once the program has launched, members can begin signing up to receive their monthly book. The Imagination Library books are specially-selected, age-appropriate, high-quality books delivered to registered children each month. These books are personalized with the child's name and mailed directly to the child's home to create a gifting experience that makes books exciting and shows the child someone is thinking of them. Every book is selected with a special purpose, from the first book, "The Little Engine That Could" to the last book, "Kindergarten, Here I Come!"
The Impact
When parents and caregivers read to their children, it exposes them to a larger, more diverse vocabulary and a greater variety of sentence structures than just talking to them. Children develop concepts of print, alphabetic knowledge, phonological awareness and improved memory – all essential skills leading to school readiness and future academic success.
Reading together is the single most important way to help children get ready to read. Parents can support their child's education by sharing books as part of their everyday routine. Establishing these critical connections and communication pathways helps families prepare young children before entering school.
Launch Information
Members can be on the lookout for more information about the program. Once the program has launched, TCEC will be communicating further sign-up information with members. To read more about the program, visit the OK State Department's webpage on the topic.
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