Dolly Parton's Imagination Library celebrates 200 million free books donated

(TND) — Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is celebrating a big milestone: sending 200 million free books to young children and their families.

Parton started the early childhood book-gifting program in 1995, inspired to make a difference after growing up with a father who couldn’t read or write.

Today, the country music icon’s program delivers over 2.4 million free books to children around the world.

Parton said helping to foster a love of reading is “one of my greatest gifts in life.”

"I know there are children in communities around the world with big dreams and the seeds of these dreams are often found in books," she said in a news release.

They’ll award seven special bookmarks to mark the occasion.

The bookmarks will be randomly hidden inside Imagination Library books gifted during International Literacy Month this September.

Children must be enrolled by July 31 to receive the September books.

The families that get one of the special bookmarks will also get a video chat with Parton, a personalized signed letter, an autographed photo, and four Dollywood Theme Park tickets.

The Dollywood Foundation will also donate $2,000 to a local Imagination Library partner in that family’s community.

Learn more here about the 200 million book celebration, and check here about enrollment in the Imagination Library program.