Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is an early-childhood literacy program that sends one carefully selected, age-appropriate book each month to children from birth until age five, free to families. Its central idea is that having books at home from a young age can help children enjoy reading, support their early learning, and nurture their ambitions, regardless of household income. Books are mailed directly to children’s homes, making access easy and giving families regular opportunities to read together.
Parton began the program in 1995 in her home county in East Tennessee, inspired in part by her father’s inability to read and write. It has since expanded to communities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland, with funding shared between Parton and local community partners. Availability depends on whether a local program operates in a child’s area, so families are encouraged to check eligibility by location. Communities without a program are invited to establish one, with resources and support from regional and state directors. The initiative’s continued expansion relies on local involvement and donations, and its site also provides parent resources, research, country-specific updates, and information about managing enrollment and book deliveries.
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