I just love Dolly Parton. Beyond her performing talents, I like that she is a self-made business woman who gives back. In 1996, she created a literacy program called the Imagination Library through which children under age 5 are sent one book per month to encourage reading. What an inspired idea!
Here’s how it all began…Dolly wanted to promote literacy in her home county in East Tennessee. Other counties were interested and partnered with her foundation to set up their own Imagination Libraries. According to the Imagination Library website, this year they sent out their 5 millionth book!
Go Dolly! I love that she remains connected to her humble roots and that her decision to give back created an unintended benefit for millions children (including mine). To see if there is an Imagination Library near you click here and enter your zip code.
If there isn’t a program in your location, ask your local leaders to look into it. We have absolutely loved getting the books. And we have been exposed to new books and authors we love, including:
- The Mine-o-Saur by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen;
- Roar of a Snore by Marsha Diane Arnold and Pierre Pratt;
- Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney; and,
- Ducks Don’t Wear Socks by John Nedwidek.
These are just a few of our favorites. I can’t help but think what an opportunity this is for the authors of these wonderful books, too.
Hats off to the fabulous Dolly Parton.
Do you guys participate in this program? What are your kid’s favorite books? I’m always on the hunt for new classics.
We absolutely LOVE the imagination library! We recently got Mine-o-Saur and Roar of a Snore…both great books with wonderful messages for the kids. Yay Dolly!
I agree. Great messages. Since we have the program in this area, I have also look for my favorite ones at the used book store and send them to friends who don’t have the program. Most of them are priced at just 25 cents.
I can’t participate with this program since we don’t live in TN, but I will say that my oldest girl LOVES Llama, Llama, Red Pajama, and we also get a kick out of Llama, Llama, Mad at Mama!!
It’s not just in Tennessee, it’s other places, too. Her foundation runs it in cooperation with local counties, but I just plugged yours in and one didn’t come up. Wah, wah, wah, wah!
Put the other books on your hunt list. They are good ones.