Why Early Literacy Matters
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Why Books from Birth &
Imagination Library Make a Difference
Discover the unique, public-private partnership that is
Governor's Books from Birth Foundation and Tennessee's Imagination Library.
This overview piece highlights our important statewide partnerships and summarizes 8 major areas of childhood literacy in which Tennessee's Imagination Library is making a difference.
Read the Overview Piece
Explore how the Imagination Library program is making a difference in early childhood literacy in this full-scale meta analysis of 10 years of research (2004-2014) conducted within Tennessee as well as across the USA.
Read the Impact Analysis
Other Early Literacy Studies
Urban Child Institute Studies
The Urban Child Institute, in partnership with Memphis City Schools, evaluated Shelby County Books from Birth Program and its effects on kindergarten readiness in 2012, with a followup in 2014. Their analysis indicates that students who participated in the program had higher scores in reading development in second grade, compared to students who had not participated.
Tennessee Board of Regents Studies
In 2007, the Tennessee Board of Regents completed the first large-scale study of the Imagination Library ‘s impact on the learning preparedness of children now enrolled in public schools. Tennessee Kindergarten and Pre-K teachers collectively affirmed that children who had participated in the Imagination Library were “better prepared.”
The First 1,000 Days
Dr. Michael Warren, MD, MPH, FAAP, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health, frequently lectures on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, examining the protective factors that allow for healthy development. In this presentation, Warren focuses on the importance of positive experiences during a child's preconception, prenatal, and early childhood periods as a source for healthier development and prosperity, emphasizing reading to a child as a positive childhood experience.
The First 1,000 Days, Dr. Michael Warren, Director, Division of Family Health & Wellness Tennessee Department of Health
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During the autumn of 2009, Knox County Schools investigated the relationship between Imagination Library students and their kindergarten peers on the Kindergarten Literacy Assessment. They found that students in the Imagination Library program performed statistically significantly better on the assessment. In this 2012 3rd Grade Follow-up Study, Knox County Schools found that the same Imagination Library alumni continued to perform better than their
non-participating peers on TCAP/Language Proficiency tests.
The 2012 Knox County Imagination Library 3rd Grade Follow Up Study
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Hamblen Co. P-16 Council 2010 IL Report
In 2006, Hamblen County developed a student readiness survey that was administered to Hamblen County preschool students and 3 & 4 year old Head Start students. Data collected, along with quotes from parents, preschool teachers, Head Start instructors, and community partners, are presented in this study. The report found that IL participants scored significantly higher on the student readiness survey than non-IL participants.
Hamblen County P-16 Council 2010 Imagination Library Report
The First Eight Years: Annie Casey Foundation Report
Analysis shows that by age 8 most children in the United States are not on track in cognitive knowledge and skills because efforts are not coordinated or linked to positive outcomes. The Annie Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT policy report makes the case for an integrated and comprehensive solution to meet the developmental needs of all children through age 8, including the benefits of reading and literacy at an early age.
The First Eights Years: Annie E. Casey Foundation Report