Carolanne Kappus treasures the time she spends reading to her 2-year-old son, Jack.
Every night since he was born, she or her husband, Mark Kappus, have read to the youngster.
So when her sister in Tennessee called to tell her about a book program for preschoolers, Kappus wanted to start it in her community.
"I wanted to start the program because reading is the foundation of a child's education," said Carolanne Kappus, who worked for 10 years as a paralegal. "It it crucial that a child be exposed to books."
After her attempts to get a nonprofit sponsor failed, Kappus started her own foundation. The Imagination Library program, which is offered in 43 states, will kick off at the Goddard School in Forest Hill on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At the event, interested parents can sign up their children and listen to books being read by county officials, including Jacqueline C. Haas, the county schools superintendent, and Nancy Giorno, the deputy county attorney.
Called Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the initiative was started in 1996 by the country music singer to foster a love of reading in young children and ensure that all kids have books.
"Dolly has always felt that education is the greatest gift that you can give a child," said David Dotson, president of the Dollywood Foundation. "You have to think in terms of need. So much of what a child needs is impacted between the ages of 0 and 5."
Because of the importance of reading to children, the program evolved, he said.
"We wanted to do something to help prepare children to learn, and the logical answer was help them learn to love reading," he said. "We asked ourselves how we could teach them to love reading, and the logical answer was to inspire them with books."
As academic expectations for children entering kindergarten have increased, the program has grown tremendously. In 2007, about 4.5 million books were mailed to about 420,000 children in three countries and 43 states, Dotson said.
Dotson attributed the program's success to its simplicity and affordability.
"Our program resonates with people because it's simple," he said. "We send the books right to the child's home. And how many things can you do for a child for $24? That's what the community pays per child."
A nonprofit sponsor is required to start the program in a new community, because the postage rate for mailing the books is lower, Kappus said.
