Happy World Book Day! Dolly Parton has been working from nine to five to help children in need foster a love of books.
In fact, the iconic country singer reached an incredible milestone on Tuesday: her book-giving literacy program donated its 100 millionth book to the Library of Congress.
The 100 million books given by her nonprofit, Imagination Library, and are now at home in the U.S.'s largest library.
The 72-year-old has been donating books to children through her nonprofit for over 20 years, ABC News reports. She originally started the Imagination Library in 1996 in honour of her father, who never learned to read or write.
Speaking on this, she recalled, "My daddy couldn't read and write and that always troubled him and bothered him so I wanted to do something special for him. So I got the idea to start this program and let my dad help me with it and he got to live long enough to hear the kids call me the ‘book lady.’"
"It makes me feel proud of who I am, where I'm from and the fact that I am in a position to help people and especially the kids," Dolly said on Good Morning America of donating her 100 millionth book.
"It's so important to me because if you can teach children to read they can dream and if you dream you can be successful.”
The Grammy Award winner also launched a new initiative between the Imagination Library and the Library of Congress. In it, a live-stream of a book being read will be shared with libraries across the States.
To start this off, Dolly read her own children's book, Coat of Many Colors, to the audience on Tuesday. The philanthropist noted that the book is a true story from her childhood about her mum.
"Yesterday when we put the book in the Library of Congress - I really felt like mom and daddy was just up there looking down thinking, ‘You go.’ So I felt really proud that I could honour momma and daddy," the singer-songwriter shared.
Dolly's love of books (she reads at least 52 a year) started with the Bible, the only tome in her family's home.
Growing up, fairy tales were some of her favourite stories to devour. The Academy Award-nominated musician said, "I love to read. Books have always been a really special thing to me."
To share this love of reading with others, parents can sign their little ones up for the Imagination Library and the children will be mailed a book every month until they start kindergarten.
Dolly observed that the literacy program is 'one of the most precious things' she has done in her life.
We love that she is helping make kids into little bookworms!
