By Andi Anderson
The Illinois State Fair is excited to announce its new partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program designed to boost early childhood literacy by sending free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five.
This initiative is open to all children, regardless of family income, ensuring that every child has access to the magic of reading.
To celebrate this collaboration, the Illinois State Fair invites families to enjoy a daily story time session at 2 p.m. inside the Sensory Station in the Emmerson Building.
This event provides a comfortable, air-conditioned space for kids to unwind and enjoy engaging stories before they continue exploring the fair.
Rebecca Clark, the Illinois State Fair Manager, highlighted the importance of this partnership, stating, “Adventure Awaits, and there is no limit to the adventures available to kids through good books.” This partnership aims to spark a lifelong love of reading in children, opening doors to limitless possibilities.
Andi Drileck, State Director of the Imagination Library of Illinois, encourages families to join in: “There’s nothing more important than inspiring a love of reading in our children.” Research shows that children who participate in the Imagination Library program develop stronger early literacy skills, which helps them succeed when they enter kindergarten.
The Imagination Library, supported by The Dollywood Foundation, mails over 3 million books every month to children worldwide. Illinois is proud to be part of this growing initiative that continues to reach more children each year.
Families interested in enrolling their children or learning more about the program can visit the official website, where they can check the availability of local programs and stay informed about new expansions.
The 2025 Illinois State Fair will run from August 7 to August 17 in Springfield.
Photo Credit: illinois-state-fair
Categories: Illinois, Rural Lifestyle