Staff photo / Bob Coupland Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and first lady Fran DeWine were at Eastwood Field in Niles on Sunday to promote literacy and present certificates to local children who completed the Imagination Library program. With the DeWines are Raymond Soloman, 5; Alison Moliterno, 5; Michael Olivia, 4; Logan Davis, 5; and Alec Shardy, 5, heading to the field for their certificates.

NILES — With a message of “children are made readers on the laps of their parents,” Gov. Mike DeWine and first lady Fran DeWine assisted in getting children 5 and under enrolled in the Imagination Library program to get new books into their hands each month.

The DeWines, along with representatives of the United Way of Trumbull County and the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, gathered Sunday at Eastwood Field in Niles, where children could sign up for the Imagination Library program.

Prior to the start of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers baseball game, the DeWines spoke to families about the importance of early childhood literacy at the program’s enrollment table, set up by the Imagination Library’s local affiliate — United Way of Trumbull County.

The DeWines also handed out certificates to local children who completed the program during a graduation ceremony on the field.

Fran DeWine said 4,346 children in Trumbull County will receive an Imagination Library book, which equals 37 percent of eligible children from birth to age 5 within the county. Statewide, 45 percent of Ohio’s eligible children are enrolled, which means nearly 325,000 children statewide will receive a book in June, she explained.

“Each month, the Imagination Library mails one age-appropriate book to children up to their fifth birthday. Literacy is so important to children starting at a young age. We work with the United Way to help get books to the children,” she said.

DeWine said actress / singer Dolly Parton started the program years ago to make sure every child, no matter where they live, would have access to books. Children 5 and under in Ohio are eligible to be enrolled in the program at no cost thanks to state funding and local county matching dollars.

Mike DeWine said his wife has been interested in promoting the Imagination Library program.

“We both read books to our eight children and now our grandchildren. We always had many books in the house for them. We want to make sure children everywhere have books,” he said.

Ginny Pasha, executive director of the United Way, said Fran DeWine “has worked tirelessly in her advocacy for this program around the state. She has elevated the importance of this program. We are so fortunate in Trumbull County to be able to offer this program to local children. We have reached 7,000 children with this program.”

Pasha said the first book children receive is “The Little Engine That Could,” which is Parton’s favorite. When a child turns 5, they receive “Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.”

“This program locally has touched another 1,700 children who were in the program and who have now aged out. We are celebrating the children who have graduated form the program,” Pasha said.

Nikki Davis brought her son, Logan, 5, of Warren, and Shaina Shardy brought her son, Alec, 5, to the program to take part in the graduation ceremony.

“He loves to read and is excited to be here,” Shaina Shardy said.

Each child had their name called and walked across a section of the field to receive a certificate from the DeWines.