Ashleigh Dallas joins Dolly Parton's Imagination Library as a Tamworth ambassador

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library delivers a free book every month for children aged zero to five, and Mrs Dallas is one of 151 mothers to sign up to the program.

"We're so busy but it's that time where we can sit with our children without distraction and read a book," she said.

"Harriet's already starting to want to touch the pages and even though it's more of a scrunch at the moment, I think it's just so important to build that with our children to encourage them to read."

The first book went out in January and new parents at the hospital are being encouraged to sign up.

The company Tamworth Regional Council is working with, United Way, has already contacted parents to run focus groups and surveys to see how the initiative will change literacy rates.

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The program is free and easy to sign up to, Tamworth librarian Shiralee Franks said. "It's the first time it's been done by an entire council in Australia," she said.

Visit Tamworth City Library to join.

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