PRINCEVILLE — The ‘Ohana Readers program that sends out books each month to children 5 and younger has expanded to Kaua‘i’s North Shore, Hawai‘i’s first lady Dawn Amano-Ige, together with state and non-profit partners, announced Tuesday.
The program operates through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and is free of charge.
‘Ohana Readers offers high-quality, age-appropriate books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library each month to children up to age 5. Children who register for the program will receive one book each month via the U.S. Postal Service beginning approximately eight to 10 weeks after their registration forms are submitted.
“As a teacher and educator, I hope the ‘Ohana Readers program will encourage family read-aloud time, an activity that will increase vocabulary, language skills, and contribute to a child’s knowledge of the world,” Amano-Ige said in a release.
The latest expansion covers communities in Anahola, Kilauea, Princeville, Hanalei, Wainiha and Ha‘ena.
The program currently serves children in Waimea and Kekaha and Moloka‘i and Lana‘i.
The program is made possible through a collaborative partnership between the Office of the Governor, the Hawai‘i State Public Library System, and nonprofit partners The Dollywood Foundation, Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i, Windward Community College’s Learning to Grow, and Read to Me International.
“Instilling a love of reading at an early age helps build a strong foundation for life-long learning,” Mayor Derek Kawakami said.
“The resources provided by ‘Ohana Readers ensures that our youngest keiki on Kaua‘i are more equipped for success in their future. Mahalo to first lady Dawn Amano-Ige and our state and nonprofit partners for expanding this wonderful program which now reaches our North Shore and Westside communities.”
To sign up for the ‘Ohana Readers program, visit the Waimea Public Library or Princeville Public Library to pick up an official registration form. Registration forms are also available at FLHhawaii.org/ohanareaders.
The program is funded by the Imagination Library, state Department of Human Services, Friends of the North Shore Library at Princeville, Kamehameha Schools and the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative Charitable Foundation.
To learn more about the ‘Ohana Readers program on Kaua‘i, contact the Waimea Public Library at 808-338-6848 or the Princeville Public Library at 808-826-4310 during operating hours.
