The United Way of Grays Harbor has launched a Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a program the singer started to provide free, age-appropriate books to kids age 0-5.

Only 37% of children in Grays Harbor and Pacific County start school ready to succeed, according to a United Way statement. This program is working towards raising that percentage.

The program covers all of the Grays Harbor and Pacific county area. It’s 100% free, and participating kids will receive a book each month in the mail.

The United Way gave an example of how the program can help kids get ready to enter school.

“Katrina and her young girls have signed up for the program before moving back to the Harbor. Katrina’s eldest daughter used to struggle with a desire to participate in regular reading time with her mother. After starting the program she is now ready and excited to sit down and read the new book they get in the mail. The whole process of being able to go out to the mail with her mom, open the mailbox to find that she received something fun has changed the whole dynamic in the home around reading.”

“Ellie is so excited when she gets her book in the mail,” said Katrina, local mother of two little girls. “She just can’t wait, and has started going with me to the mailbox every day in hopes that her book is in. This has been great for our family, and something we all look forward to each month.”

Registering children for United Way of Grays Harbor Imagination Library only takes about five minutes. Sign up at ImaginationLibrary.com.

More information can be found at unitedwaygraysharbor.org or by calling 360-532-6260.