(Portland, OR) -- The United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is joining Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program. The United Way will help get kids younger than five signed up to receive a free, age-appropriate book in the mail every month. Fewer than 40 percent of Oregon third graders are reading at benchmark and free books are one way to improve that. Last May, the Legislature approved funding to run the program in 30 counties. They're working to expand coverage in the remaining six counties.