Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Inspiring a Love of Reading, One Book at a Time
In 1995, country music legend Dolly Parton launched a program with a simple but powerful vision: to foster a love of reading in preschool children and their families, ensuring every child has access to books, regardless of their family’s income. Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) was founded as a tribute to him and has since blossomed into a global phenomenon, gifting over 270 million books worldwide.
How It Works: The Magic of a Monthly Gift
The premise of the Imagination Library is beautifully simple and highly effective: registered children, from birth until they turn five years old, receive a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book mailed directly to their home each month. The books are personalized with the child’s name, creating a special “gifting experience” that makes the arrival an exciting monthly event. The program is entirely free for families, with no cost or obligation.
The logistics are managed through a unique partnership model. The Dollywood Foundation oversees the program’s infrastructure, manages a central database, and coordinates book selection and wholesale purchasing. The real heroes on the ground are the thousands of local program partners—businesses, school districts, organizations, or individuals—who raise the funds to cover the wholesale cost of the books and mailing fees within their specific geographic areas.
Each child’s journey begins with a customized version of the classic story, The Little Engine That CouldTM. The books are carefully selected by a “Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee” of early childhood literacy experts and often include reading tips for parents and caregivers to enhance engagement. A child enrolled from birth will accumulate a personal library of 60 books by the time they start kindergarten. The program also offers bilingual English/Spanish and Braille options in select areas.
A Global Reach and Proven Impact
What began in Dolly’s home county of Sevier County, Tennessee, now spans five countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. In July 2024, the program gifted over 3 million books in a single month.
The impact of the Imagination Library extends far beyond simply putting books in homes. Research consistently shows a significant positive correlation between participation in DPIL and improved early literacy skills, kindergarten readiness, and academic performance in elementary school. Studies have found that:
- Children in the program are more likely to be “on track” for language and literacy skills when entering kindergarten.
- Parents report reading to their children more often, with participants being around 30% more likely to read daily than non-participants.
Join the Journey
Dolly Parton often states the Imagination Library is one of the most important things she’s ever done, a sentiment reinforced by her father’s pride in her being known as “The Book Lady”. Her enduring mission is to inspire children to “Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More”.
To enroll a child, visit the official website at ImaginationLibrary.com .
Key Book Details
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library features a curated list of high-quality, age-appropriate books that changes annually and varies by country to reflect local culture and language. All enrolled children receive their first book, The Little Engine That CouldTM (in the US), and their final book is often related to starting kindergarten.
- Initial Book: Most US children start their journey with the classic The Little Engine That CouldTM, which embodies the program’s “I think I can” spirit.
- Age-Appropriate Curation: A “Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee” of experts selects books that are appropriate for each stage of a child’s development, from board books for infants to picture books that prepare older children for school.
- Bilingual Options: The program offers English/Spanish bilingual books for some age groups in certain areas.
- Variety: The selections aim for variety, including traditional stories, non-fiction content, and books with positive messages like Dolly Parton’s own Coat of Many Colors.
