Dolly Brings the ‘Wow’ Factor to Literacy Scheme

When told that country singer, actress and global superstar Dolly Parton was coming to town, many people were slightly bemused and asked, "Why Rotherham?"

Leader of Rotherham council, Roger Stone, who first raised the possibility of Dolly coming to the area, was at the Magna Science Adventure Centre this Wednesday to answer just that, "Why not Rotherham? It's about time they took things out of London and Manchester. Dolly is bringing the 'Wow' factor to South Yorkshire."

And she did just that. The southern belle glided onto the stage in a fantastically over-the-top emerald green sparkling dress and mesmerised the audience with a rendition of, 'Workin' nine-to-five'.

After the sing-song, Dolly told an audience of council officials, business bosses and the World's press about her mission. She is launching her Imagination Library scheme for the first time outside of the US - in the former coal-mining town of Rotherham.

Since its debut in 1996, Imagination Library has spread to 43 states in the United States and parts of Canada. Children involved with the scheme in the US receive a parcel once a month, from birth until the age of five, each containing a new book as a present from the Dollywood Trust. Now it is making its way to 15,000 children in Rotherham, who will start getting free books through the post by next year.

Dolly's 'dirt poor' upbringing as part of a large family in the Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, has inspired her to make a difference with the under-fives and encourage parents to read with their children.

"The Imagination Library is very close to my heart and we have just given away our 11 millionth book. My father didn't have an opportunity to go to school, and he was one of the smartest people I have ever known. I often wonder what he would have been like given the chance of an education."

"I was always fascinated by stories. I loved the smell of books and I loved the feel of books. You can't give too many kids too many books, right?"

Back home, Dolly is proud to have been dubbed, 'the book lady' and hopes the name will stick in Rotherham. The Holy Bible had the greatest effect on the singer, but Rotherham's children will receive Beatrix Potter's The Tales of Peter Rabbit and his Friends, Little Red Riding Hood and Spot Goes to School. Dolly is hoping the scheme will soon spread out to other British towns and cities.

After a heartfelt rendition of 'Coat of Many Colours', a song which symbolises the star's climb from rags to riches, she said:

"A hundred years from now I hope someone will say that I cared. Either that or, 'Don't she look good for her age!'"