It's like a free book-of-the-month club for Fox Valley kids
Economists are notorious for proclaiming "There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Well, if there isn't, then the Imagination Library is pretty darned close to proving there is such a thing as a free batch of books.
Up to 60 of them, actually.
The program was started in 1995 by country music star Dolly Parton in her Tennessee hometown because she wanted little kids to have their own collection of books.
Over the years, the program expanded and now Elgin is getting on board thanks to the support from Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin Township, United Way of Elgin and the Kids Matter Impact Council.
From birth through age 5, children receive a free book mailed to their home each month.
That's 60 books, per kid, for free.
The program is open to children of families who live in Elgin, South Elgin, Hampshire, Burlington or Lafox.
Income level does not matter, but the United Way's focus is children of low income families.
Each hard-covered book is age appropriate and includes such titles as "The Little Engine That Could," "The Poky Little Puppy," "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," and more.
Beginning this March or April, books will be sent out to participating children.
Books will begin arriving at the child's home about eight to 10 weeks after the registration form has been received by United Way of Elgin.
Community members will kick off the program from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, with storytellers, music, refreshments and children activities, and parents may register their children there for the Imagination Library.
For information, call (847) 741-2259.
Congrats: To the Da Vinci Academy for advancing to the state MathCounts competition after placing third in the regional event held Feb. 7 at the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora.
MathCounts is a national middle school math competition that has team and individual events.
The da Vinci team placed third overall among thirty schools - many of them large public schools - qualifying them to move on to the state tournament in March.
The team is composed of eighth-graders: Hannah Werman and Shayna Oriold of St. Charles; Keith Kimberling of South Elgin; and Ty Bottorff of Lakewood.
Students who competed in the individual round were: eighth-graders Ike Frankel of West Dundee and Jack Michuda of Geneva; seventh-grader Alex Park of St. Charles; and sixth-grader Sam Bartusek of Geneva.
Kimberling placed ninth overall in the top 10 for the second year in a row and Frankel placed 10th overall. The state contest is March 7.
Da Vinci Academy is an independent school for gifted students in grades prekindergarten through eight in Elgin.