The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is an early literacy program for children from birth until their 5th birthday.
In 1995, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee, USA. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. The new program gave each child a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age appropriate books directly to their homes, Dolly wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could ensure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income.
Since its launch, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has set and surpassed many goals and milestones. National replication, which started in 2000, allowed more and more communities to adopt the program. State-wide coverage was established in Tennessee in 2004. Furthermore, international growth provided expansion in Canada (2006), United Kingdom (2007) and Australia (2014).
The first book order in 1995 totaled just over 1,700. Today, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library sends more than one million books per month to children around the world inspiring them to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is now known as a renowned literacy program founded by the legendary Dolly Parton whose father could not read. This initiative is dedicated to fostering a love for reading among children from birth to age five.
Every month, children enrolled in the program receive a high-quality, age-appropriate book mailed directly to their homes, at no cost to their families. The first book your child will receive is “The Little Engine Who Could” and when they turn 5, they will receive “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come.”
Dolly Parton believes that focusing on early literacy allows children to dream, learn, and be more!
United Way of Southeast Iowa wants to SPARK a love of learning by gifting books to children. Research has shown that an increased number of books in a child’s home combined with positive attitudes about reading and increased time spent reading with caregivers results in kindergarten literacy readiness.
Currently, all children residing in Southeast Iowa located in Des Moines, Lee, Louisa, Henry, and Van Buren County, between the ages of birth and five can enroll in the Imagination Library. Your child will receive books mailed to them monthly until their 5th birthday as long as they live in a covered geographic area.
Please allow eight to twelve weeks for your little one’s first book to arrive. Subsequent books will arrive monthly.
Please allow eight to twelve weeks for your little one’s first book to arrive. Subsequent books will arrive monthly.
Please allow eight to twelve weeks for your little one’s first book to arrive. Subsequent books will arrive monthly.
Please allow eight to twelve weeks for your little one’s first book to arrive. Subsequent books will arrive monthly.
Please allow eight to twelve weeks for your little one’s first book to arrive. Subsequent books will arrive monthly.
You can make a lasting impact on a child’s life and the overall literacy of your community by sponsoring a child’s enrollment in the program today.
● $34 will provide one year of books for a local child.
● $170 will provide a child with books from birth to age five!
●$340 will provide one year of books for 10 local children.
● $850 will provide 5 children with books from birth to age five!
The Imagination Library is made possible through a shared funding model. Dolly and the Dollywood Foundation cover many overhead costs and administration needs. Local programs, like us here at United Way of Southeast Iowa, secure funding for books and postage.
Local funding for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program in Southeast Iowa is provided by:
● Early Childhood Iowa