A nonprofit launched earlier this year is putting free books into the hands of young children across Maine Township, including families in Park Ridge and Niles.

Little Explorers of the Plaines, the local affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, mails a free book each month to enrolled children from birth to age 5. Des Plaines City Clerk Dominik Bronakowski and A.J. Fallico, a local realtor and Des Plaines Planning and Zoning Board member, co-founded the chapter, which began organizing in early March.

The program kept moving forward after Parton's death Aug. 25 at age 80. The Journal & Topics reported Sept. 12 that the founders intend to continue the work Parton started in 1995.

Bronakowski estimated that between 6,000 and 7,000 children under 5 live in Maine Township. "We'll serve Maine Township and communities like Des Plaines and Park Ridge," he told the Journal & Topics in March, when the chapter was first taking shape. He said in March that the group plans to raise funds from local businesses and the state to cover book costs and delivery.

Fallico described the effort at the time as being in its early stages, aimed at helping families build personal libraries and improve literacy. Supporters also met with officials at the Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Niles public libraries to build support for the program, Bronakowski said.

Since then, the chapter has grown.

On Sept. 5, Little Explorers held a "Dolly Day" event where 141 books found new homes, according to the organization's Facebook page. The group had seven board members as of March and has been actively promoting itself online.

Parton's Imagination Library has gifted more than 300 million books to children in five countries since 1995, according to the BBC. The program mails age-appropriate books directly to children's homes regardless of family income.

Families in Park Ridge, Niles and other Maine Township communities can register through the organization's website.