Impact of an Community-Based Book Gifting Program on Kindergarten Reading Readiness

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 2:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Evaluations of Literacy Programs: Promoting a Love of Reading (Table 11)

Abstract

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a book gifting program supported by local communities and the Dollywood Foundation. The implementation involves children ages 1 month through 5 years receiving a developmentally-appropriate book each month. Book include parent suggestions to promote development and early literacy skills. This study follows a county-wide program implementation, examining the effects of the program by evaluating students' reading skills in the Fall Kindergarten reading proficiency measures used by all school districts in the county. Comparisons between students who were and were not participating in the program (which was open to all residents) identify the overall efficacy of this birth-to-five initiative to support emergent reading skills.

Authors

• Jerrell C. Cassady, Ball State University

• Sydney Katherine Johnson, Ball State University

• Mary Gibble, Community Foundation of Hancock County

• Danielle Davis, Ball State University

• Quinton Quagliano, Ball State University