How 'Book Queen' Dolly Parton inspired millions of children with gift of reading

Image caption, Dolly Parton first launched Imagination Library in her home county in TennesseeBySheila Flynn, Reporting fromColorado, US and Claire Keenan and Emily Holt, Reporting fromAustralia and UKOne child in Denver called her "The Book Queen".Another in Alabama calls her "Ms Dolly".Across the globe in Australia, a toddler with speech delays delighted her family with her first word - "orange" - after she and her twin sister received a free book in the post about colours. It came from Imagination Library, the literacy programme begun by late global superstar Dolly Parton.Parton, who died this week aged 80, launched the philanthropic effort in 1995 to honour her father - whose difficult Appalachian upbringing never allowed him to finish school or learn to read and write."He was the smartest man I have ever known, but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams," wrote Parton in an open letter on Imagination Library's website."Inspiring kids to love to read became my mission."Image source, Harriet AnscombeImage caption, London mother-of-two Harriet Anscombe signed her daughter up for the scheme when she was three months oldImaginat...