Local children benefit from Imagination Library
Guest blogger: Michaele Duke
news@kingstreenews.com
The Kingstree News
The Kingstree News
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| From left: Carletta Isreal, TammaRa Lasane, TammaLa Lasane
Photo courtesy of Michaele Duke
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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has touched countless
young lives since its inception 20 years ago.
The program, which is designed to foster a love of reading by mailing free,
age-appropriate books each month to children from birth to age five, reaches
communities across the globe.
In the rural town of Salters in Williamsburg County, SC, two
young ladies are living testaments to the lasting impact reading can have on a
child. TammaRa and TammaLa Lasane are sisters who have personal experiences
with the program. TammaRa, 14, began receiving books from the program when she
was nearly five. TammaRa would share her books with her newborn sister and went
on to share her love of reading with school children.
"It made me feel good to know I've done something to make kids want to read more,"
said
TammaRa. In 2013 she raised money through a church program to buy books that
she donated to local children.
TammaLa began receiving the books when she was two years
old. She enjoyed reading so much that she was named the highest reader out of
three grade levels at her school and in fifth grade she was named the highest
reader of the entire school. In addition, the Williamsburg County Library
awarded her with a bicycle for her accomplishments. She said she plans to pass
on her love of reading to everyone who will listen.
"I like reading books because they help me in school,"
said the shy 11 year old who has read
over 100 books.
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| Photo courtesy of Michaele Duke |
TammaLa said her secret to making kids want to read is
simple.
"You just have to find something that they're really interested in and read it to them."
The girl's mother, Tammy, knew that concept very
well.
"We were very energetic with the reading," said Tammy. "To make the book bigger than life, if it said "bam," I'd say just as loud as I could, "BAM!,"
laughed Tammy.
"They would be looking in the book for that word because I made it so loud."
Tammy obviously understands the importance of a parent or
loved one reading to a child and research supports her thinking. Studies show 68 percent
of fourth graders do not read at a proficient level and one out of six children
who do not read at age level by the end of third grade will not graduate from
high school. Research also shows that children who read on a regular basis
score better on reading tests and written tests than infrequent readers.
Ms. Parton's father, Robert Lee Parton, who could not read or write was the inspiration behind the program. Known as "The Book Lady," Ms. Parton launched Imagination Library from her hometown in 1995 and has since mailed over 70 million books worldwide. Williamsburg County First Steps Executive Director Carletta Isreal will be on hand for the celebration.
