NILES, Ohio -

 Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine encouraged parents to sign kids up for a free book program as she and the Governor visited Eastwood Field during Sunday's Mahoning County Scrappers game.

 

"We know a child's brain is 80 percent developed by the time they're three, so let's not waste those early years. Let's start getting books in their hands right away, so that's what we're doing," Frances DeWine said of the program known as the Imagination Library.

 

Promoted by country singer Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library mails free books to children as old as five to encourage literacy.

 

"We try to sign them up as soon as they're born. Then they will get a free book in the mail. they're wrapped in plastic with the child's address on the back," said First Lady DeWine. "They go right to the child, not the parent. They are good books, they're fun books and they get one every single month." 

 

Approximately 37 percent of the age of five in Trumbull County are already signed up, but they would like to get all children's parents to sign up for the free book program.

 

President and CEO of the Trumbull County United Way, Ginny Pasha accompanied the First Lady at the stadium offering informational brochures to parents.

 

 

You can also sign up at ohioimaginationlibrary.org