Laxgalt’sap is one of six First Nations communities in the province whose young children will be given the chance for free books to enhance literacy and learning.As part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, each family will have the opportunity to register their child for the program and receive a free book every month in the mail until their child’s fifth birthday.

The books are carefully selected by a group of experts in education, child development and early childhood literacy, ensuring that the content they read and the illustrations in the books are supporting the child appropriately at every stage of his of her development.

The program offers a way for parents to connect with their children, support their children’s language development and prepare them for kindergarten.Up to 30 rural and remote communities are eligible for the program, with more expected to sign on over the next several months.

“By partnering with Invest in Kids to support innovative literacy programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, we take another step forward in our goal to improve Aboriginal literacy rates and close the socio-economic gap between Aboriginal people and other British Columbians,” said Michael de Jong, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.

This program is designed to give children an early start to their learning and development, providing age-appropriate books to encourage reading and language skills. “When we inspire children to read, we open their eyes to new worlds and experiences,” said B.C. Education Minister Shirley Bond.

The other communities participating in the program are Skidegate, Yekooche First Nation, Taku River Tlingit First Nation, Penelakut Tribe and Sliammon First Nation.These six join a growing number of Canadian communities taking part in the Imagination Library program.

Invest in Kids in partnership with The Dollywood Foundation of Canada, the British Columbia Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and the First Nations Education Steering Committee are the organizers launching this program in B.C.

The program has been available in Canada to families with children under five since November 2006.This year more than 5 million hard cover books will be delivered to more than 480,000 children throughout the United States and Canada.