Dolly Parton launches UK literacy drive

She's the Queen of Country and yesterday Dolly Parton unveiled her plan to make her a superstar for British parents with her new Imagination Library Scheme.

Raisingkids.co.uk couldn't pass up the chance to see the self-proclaimed Backwoods Barbie 'I might look artificial, but where it counts, I'm real,' in the flesh. And although Parton was a mite confused on where she was, greeting the audience at London's Savoy Hotel with a 'Hello Rotherham!', there was no mistaking the positive response to her campaign.

Back in 1996 Parton launched the Imagination Library for preschool children in her hometown of Severier Country, Tennessee. Thanks to donations from her foundation and matching donations from local businesses, all preschool children who joined up receive a free book in the post every month.

When councillors from Rotherham made a visit to Nashville, they were inspired by the Library's success and asked Ms Parton to make them the UK launchpad for the scheme. Now thanks to participation from Penguin books and the Royal Mail, Dolly's Imagination Library looks set to take Britain by storm.

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