The Story of Andy and “His” Books

It is the middle of the month and Andy, age two and a half, is getting excited each day as Dad or Mom brings the mail into the house. He has learned to look forward to the colorful plastic wrapped package addressed to “Andy.” He knows the flyer goes to his parents but the book is his very own! He will anxiously wait for someone to read the story to him before he adds it to his collection of Imagination Library books.

He has been in the program for a year now and has 12 books. Most of them have been read to him many times. He not only presents his choices to Mom and Dad before bedtime but grandparents, friends and dinner guests are all given the opportunity to read at least one story. The characters in the books are now his friends and he clearly understands the magic of the printed page and the enjoyment associated with books.

Andy will be in the program until he is five, and ready for school. And he will be ready. He can recite the alphabet, count to ten, and is very articulate in describing his story friends to whoever will listen. Data available on “graduated” program participants suggest he will probably have a measurable advantage in getting ready to learn in school, an advantage that he would not have had without “his” books.

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