OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) -- Children in Oshkosh 5 and under are eligible for free books each month.

It's all part of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program.

Sandra Reeser is director of fund development and marketing for the Oshkosh Area United Way. She says last week she submitted an order for the first set of books for 148 Oshkosh children.

Reeser says the program provides one book a month per child from birth to five.

The country superstar started it in Tennessee in 1996 to help increase literacy in rural areas.

Forty-four states are now part of the program. And it's now in Canada and England. A quarter of a million children are now part of it.

Reeser says they're aiming to reach one-fourth of the estimated 4,600 children in Oshkosh who are eligible.