Share Dolly’s dream of inspiring young readers has put 150 million books—so far—in children’s hands Each month in homes in Knox County, more than 21,000 children receive a book in the mail. The packaging comes off and the children rediscover the joy of reading. And parents relish the moments spent poring over a story with their young ones. “When you sit down and read with your child or with a child in your life, it’s not just building preliterate skills or their imagination, it’s also critically important bonding,” says Mary Pom Claiborne, director of marketing, development and communications at the Knox County Public Library. “It’s a very intimate time. They get a lot of emotional security, and that can set a tone for the child’s life.”