PRESS ASSOCIATION -- More than 40,000 free books have been donated to children in Scotland by a foundation headed by country singer Dolly Parton.
The singer was in Glasgow on Sunday to mark the success of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which aims to give looked after children free books every month until they are five.
Children in Scotland have benefited from 40,092 books, with more set to follow.
Parton said: "When I am on tour, we are in and out of a town so fast it doesn't leave much time for anything else. However, this is very important to me and I am so proud of our partnership with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Book Trust.
"They love kids as much as I do and we share a belief that if we do what is right for children now, they will do what's right the rest of their lives."
The Scottish Government has been working with the Scottish Book Trust and the Dollywood Foundation to bring the singer's Imagination Library to Scotland. Scottish Government funding will enable the Imagination Library to provide 12 free books every year for all 3,341 looked after children in Scotland.
Children's minister Angela Constance, who met Parton in Glasgow, said: "I am delighted to be able to personally thank Dolly Parton for working with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Book Trust to ensure that Scotland's most vulnerable children are able to benefit from her innovative Imagination Library.
"The early years are vitally important for a child's development and this support can make a real difference to future attainment. It is particularly crucial to ensure looked after children receive help and inspiration like this to experience the same life chances as their peers.
"Research shows that children whose parents and carers who spend time reading and talking with them frequently have better language skills than those who do not. That is one of the underlying principles of our Play Talk Read campaign. The provision of books from the Imagination Library will have a positive impact and help looked after children discover the joy of reading."
Marc Lambert, chief executive of the Scottish Book Trust, which runs the successful Bookbug book gifting programme in partnership with the Scottish Government, said: "It is a privilege for the Scottish Book Trust to be involved with a scheme of such social and educational importance."