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Saturday, January 16, 2016 12:28pm ET by  
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Free books to be given to London kids thanks to Dolly Parton

Southwark children born this year (2016) will receive a free book every month up until the age of five thanks to country singer, Dolly Parton.

The Imagination Library initiative set up by Parton aims to encourage children and their families to read more.

The free monthly gift will apply to 5,000 kids that are born in the South London borough of Southwark.

The Imagination Library started in 1995 in her home county of Tennessee and has grown into a worldwide success.

Parton recorded a YouTube message to announce Southwark's involvement, she said:

"Hello Southwark, this is Dolly, and I just want to thank you for launching the Imagination Library. Thanks to the generosity of DialAFlight and their charity, Make My Day Better, five thousand kids born in 2016 will start getting a new book every month. And, I certainly don't want to forget the council because their staff will make sure that every child is registered.

"This is a really big deal for you and for me! My hope is one day every kid in London will be part of the Imagination Library and when that day finally arrives, we can all look back and say 'well it started right here.' Now let's have some fun!"

According to the website, 17,600 UK children have now been registered for the scheme. To find out more visit the Imagination Library website, which includes details of how to set up a programme in your local area.

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Watch the Dolly Parton announce the Imagination Library's Southwark initiative, her video for 'Jolene' and a snippet from 'Graham Norton Goes to Dollywood', below:

 

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