Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Many parents may be surprised to learn that free books are just a mail delivery away! Children feel so special when they receive mail and report enjoyment and excitement when they see a new book has been gifted to them.  Research shows that receiving and exploring a new book is a strong opportunity for children to talk to their parents, learn new words, practice listening, develop understanding of a basic story plot, and develop a lifelong love of reading.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a book-giving program cultivated by the well-respected musician Dolly Parton which makes high-quality books available to families throughout the country. Most interestingly, Dolly Parton created this program in honor of her father, who never had the opportunity to learn to read. What first began as a local effort in her home community of Sevier County in Tennessee grew into an international early childhood literacy initiative for children from birth through age 5. Through this program, any family can receive one free, high-quality, age-appropriate book every month—mailed directly to their family’s home and addressed specifically to their child. Through this program, there is no cost associated and eligibility is universal. The program is designed to create an equal opportunity for literacy for all children no matter their place of residence or their family finances. Books through this program are intentionally selected to match developmental stages with different story lines and concepts that are appropriate by age. Receiving a monthly book from birth could ensure that a child could have the chance to build a personal home library of as many as 60 books by age 5, before entering kindergarten.

It is well known that shared book reading creates a natural environment for children to develop language, literacy, and a strong relationship with their caregivers. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes shared reading in the early years as an important way to support cognitive and language development as well as to promote  strong, positive attachment styles and a healthy relationship between children and their caregivers. Many people may not realize that a single picture book can give a child hundreds of opportunities to:

• Hear and learn vocabulary

• Practice combining words into phrases and sentences

• Answer and ask questions

• Follow directions

• Describe pictures and events

• Learn basic concepts

• Practice turn-taking and conversational skills

• Make predictions and inferences

• Learn about emotions and other people’s perspectives

• Notice sounds, rhymes, letters, and print

Similarly, shared reading gives caregivers opportunities to follow their child’s interests and build language around what the child is looking at, pointing toward, interested in, and curious about.

The Imagination Library has been growing rapidly throughout the state of Illinois in recent years. Illinois established a statewide Imagination Library initiative through the Illinois State Board of Education, with the goal of encouraging preschool-aged children to develop a love of reading and learning before kindergarten. Illinois’ state literacy program through the Imagination Library has continued to expand. As of April 2026, 93 of 102 statewide counties had Imagination Library coverage and More than 108,000 Illinois children had received books, with more than 5 million books being delivered to Illinois children since the program began within the state. The statewide goal is simple but meaningful: to make books available to young children in every Illinois ZIP code, regardless of family income. For parents of children under age 5, this special program is worth exploring and learning more about!