VALDOSTA — Valdosta’s three Rotary clubs hope to make reading fundamental for Lowndes County children.

The Valdosta, Valdosta North, and Valdosta Sunrise Rotary clubs have united with the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and Leap Into Books to mail an age-appropriate book per month to registered children under 5 years old in Lowndes County.

The Valdosta Daily Times has also become a partner in the Rotary endeavor.

Together, these groups and other area individuals and organizations have formed the Lowndes County Community Action Team.

The program will begin with 200 children, with Rotary Club of Valdosta providing 100 books; Valdosta North Rotary, 75; Valdosta Sunrise Rotary, 25.

Yet, the end goal is providing a monthly book for every Lowndes County child under 5 years old. The Rotary currently lists 8,153 Lowndes children under the age of 5.

There is no restriction on registration. Any child may register, but the intended effect is the Rotary clubs hope to reach children who would otherwise have no books in their houses.

Robert Harrison, Rotary District 6920 assistant governor, Dennis W. Marks, president of Rotary Club of Valdosta, and Jeff Moxley, president of Valdosta North Rotary, shared these numbers with The Valdosta Daily Times:

l 61 percent of low-income families don’t have a single book in the home suitable for a child.

l A third of our children begin school unprepared to read.

l Parents are four times more likely to read aloud to their children when given free books and encouragement.

l This program develops the habit of parent and child interaction that continues throughout the educational career of the child.

The Rotary clubs are raising funds and taking donations for the program. Individuals or groups may give money and designate a specific child to receive the books. The set of illustrated children’s books begins with “The Little Engine That Could” and ends with “Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.”

$36 provides a book a month for one child for one year; $180 provides a book a month for one child for five years; $900 provides a book a month for five children for five years.