Dolly Parton, who recently died at age 80 after a short battle with cancer, considered Ohio her "second state," and she left her mark on it through her Imagination Library program.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has given away more than 300 million books to children in five countries, according to its website. Ohio first lady Fran DeWine expanded the program in the Buckeye State when Mike DeWine became governor in 2019.
"Her devotion to children and literacy is unparalleled," Fran DeWine wrote on Aug. 25. "Because of Dolly, millions of children around the country and the world are getting free books and learning how to read, which will, in many cases, change the trajectory of their lives. Because of Dolly’s vision and generosity, over 1 million Ohio
children have received free books in the mail, totaling nearly 28 million books."
And the Imagination Library of Ohio brought the program outdoors, with Storybook Trails at Ohio State Parks and rest areas across the state.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio creates Storybook Trails across the state
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio partnered with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Transportation to bring Storybook Trails to many state parks and rest areas in Ohio
Each one is a short walking path that features pages of a book from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on child-height panels, highlighting the importance of literacy, a healthy lifestyle and connecting with nature.
"Thank you, Dolly Parton, for helping make reading an outdoor adventure for Ohio kids," ODNR wrote in an Aug. 25 Facebook post.
Where are Storybook Trails in Ohio?
There are 21 Storybook Trails in Ohio State Parks, and 31 at rest areas and welcome centers in the state.
An interactive map from ODNR shows where to find one near you.
What is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library?
Parton launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 1995 by sending free books to children in Sevier County, Tennessee, where she was born and raised. She started the program to honor her father, Robert “Lee” Parton, who died in 2000.
“Daddy didn’t get a chance to read and write and he was always kind of embarrassed by that,” Parton said during a 2022 visit to Ohio. “I just always felt my heart was always heavy that my Daddy felt like there was something he couldn’t do, because we thought he could do anything.”
Now, those free books are available for children ages 5 and younger in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. It's also available in every county in Ohio, with 70% of eligible households participating.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Dolly Parton leaves mark on Ohio with Storybook Trails across state
