Dollywood

Len Tingle Editor, The Politics Show BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Country superstar jetting into Rotherham?

If you have a problem with teaching young children to read, who do you call?

Well, council leaders in the South Yorkshire steel town of Rotherham knew exactly who they wanted - Dolly Parton.

Not only did the country superstar answer the call, but she is jetting into Rotherham to lend a hand in person.

Len Tingle went to her home town in the Smokey Mountains to find out why Rotherham thought she could help.

Theme park USA

It is easy to see that Dolly is far more than just a singer and entertainer in the Smokey Mountains.

The area makes most of its money from tourism and Dolly is a major attraction.

Len Tingle in Dollywood

Her cheery face peers down from giant advertising bill boards at the side of the single highway which runs through the valley that makes up Seiver County.

At its heart is a giant theme park called Dollywood.

Sandwiched in between the roller coasters, fairground rides and "The Dolly Parton Story" theatre is a clue to why Dolly is now seen as a major force in teaching children to read.

It is a replica of the small log cabin where Dolly and her 11 brothers and sisters grew up.

There is not a single book on show.

Helping with literacy

Dolly's book available in 45 US states

"Growing up in the Smokey Mountains I saw how people suffered because they couldn't read," Dolly explains on a promotional video for an organisation she's set up called the Dollywood Foundation.

"I decided then that it would be a good idea if we could provide a book every month for every child under five to help them learn to read."

And that's exactly what she did.

She created the "Imagination Library" where every month a book is popped in the post addressed to any child under five.

It started in a small way in the neighbouring towns on the edge of the Smokies.

Now half the families in the entire state of Tennessee have signed up for the books and its spread to a total of 45 states.

It has now taken on a life of its own with each town finding a sponsor to help pay for the books with the state chipping in the rest.

Dolly has taken on the role of ambassador to spread the word.

Legend in homestate of Arkansas

Reading in Rotherham

Rotherham, where literacy levels for children in schools is below the national average, will be the first community on this side of the Atlantic to take up the "Imagination Library"

The local chamber of commerce has already agreed to meet the costs of the books.

In a special live programme from Rotherham, Clare Frisby will be asking whether Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is the right way forward for a town struggling to improve reading standards.

Tim Iredale will be reporting from Grimsby where the town has been using different methods to get kids to bury their noses in a book.

The Politics Show for the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with Jon Sopel and Clare Frisby on Sunday 02 December at 12:00 GMT on BBC One.

---