All about Imagination Library (Dolly Parton Book Club)
Did you know that Dolly Parton gives away free books for kids?
Reading is fundamental to brain growth in small children and getting books into their hands is very important. Country singer, Dolly Parton, believes in this concept so much that she has developed a program that sends children a book every month from birth to age 5.
Dolly Parton Books for Kids
The Imagination Library was inspired by Parton’s father.
Raised in a remote, rural community, her father had never learned to read and Parton knew that this missing element greatly affected his life.
“Inspiring kids to love to read became my mission,” she says.
The program was originally launched in 1995 and by 2003, Dolly Parton’s free book program had delivered over a million books for kids.
Dolly Parton Free Books for Kids
Each month, the Imagination Library mails high quality, age appropriate books to participating children, age birth through 5, at no cost to their families. Each month you child can have a new book which can help fuel their love of reading.
From picture books to books for a higher age group, they have a great list of recent books to add to your own library of books.
The goal? Making sure children have access to great books in their home.
From the Imagination Library website:
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, no matter their family’s income.
Free Books For Kids
Did you know this isn’t a new thing? They’ve hit milestones for 25 years reaching goal after goal to help send free books for kids.
Isn’t that amazing?
Just think the first book sent out was so long ago and Dolly Parton has worked hard to make sure kids have access to free childrens books.
Where is Dolly Parton Imagination Library available?
The Imagination Library began in Parton’s home state of Tennessee in 1995 and expanded across the United States in 2000.
More recently, the program has expanded to Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, with Ireland joining in 2019.
Over 130 million books have found their way to eager new readers since the Imagination Library began.
Studies say that reading to your kids teaches them over a million words before kindergarten.
Just reading one picture book per day can add 78,000 words per year.
Reading with your kids 20 minutes a day builds vocabulary and pre-reading skills.
Keep Up With News From Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Want to know the latest and greatest details from Dolly Parton’s book club? It’s easy!
Dolly Parton’s book program actually has a news and resources tab so you can see all the wonderful changes coming up!
Dolly Parton Imagination Library Sign Up
With the Imagination Library, these kinds of free books are finding their way into homes and helping more children learn to love reading.
The Imagination Library is available in many communities across the country.
You can check to see if it’s available in your area here.
More Dolly Parton Books For Kids
Did you know Dolly Parton is also know as the Book Lady? You can learn about why she is called that and more about her life from these amazing Dolly Parton books for kids. This post contains affiliate links.
- My Little Golden Book About Dolly Parton
- Dolly Parton
- Coat Of Many Colors
- Who Is Dolly Parton?
- I Am Dolly Parton
Imagination Library FAQs
How much does Dolly Parton book club cost?
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is free to the participating children. The Imagination Library partners with Local Affiliate Partners like businesses, school districts, organizations and individuals who share the mission of getting books into the hands of all children.
How can I get free books from Dolly Parton?
- Check the availability of the Imagination Library in your area.
- Click on your country.
- Then add your zip code, state, city and county (or what is prompted for countries outside of the United States).
- If the program is available, you will be prompted to fill out more information. If the program is not available in your area, you can be put on a list to be notified when it becomes available.
How many books do you get with Dolly Parton book club?
“…Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a high quality, age appropriate book to all registered children, addressed to them, at no cost to the child’s family.” – Imagination Library, United States
Who is eligible for Dolly Parton Imagination Library?
Every child under 5 (in participating countries/areas) can participate in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library no matter their family’s income. Currently 1 in 10 children under 5 in the United States receives Imagination Library books!
How much does Dolly Parton Imagination Library cost?
The Imagination Library is free to the children and their families.
More Library Fun from Kids Activities Blog
- Have you heard about the American Girl free online library?
- If you are local to Texas, check out the Lewisville library.
- What about a toy library…that sounds like great fun!
- We love the Scholastic watch and learn library!
- And don’t miss the Sesame Street library either…oh all the reading fun for kids!
Have you gotten books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library? How did your child love their age-appropriate books? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!
This a awesome way to let kids learn!!
I really think this is a wonderful way of putting bokks in the hands of children. Thank you Dolly.
I would like to sign up my grand daughter please
I Live Dolly for all the great things she is doing in her community and others. Thank You
You need to make it for every where I can’t get books for my son in alabama
I would love to have my granddaughter Bella added to the list, Bella is 6 months old. Lives in Harwick, Ma.
I have 2 granddaughters and a grandson that would love these
I would like to get the books for my granddaughter she’s 3 and we read to her and she loves it
I signed up for books in December and received a confirmation email but still haven’t received any books. Could you please check the account and see what the problem is?
Thank you,
Joseph Faison
This is so amazing! Would love to have my 2 youngest apart of this! Ones 4 and ones 8 months.
I would love to get the books to for my two year old she loves to be read to and she loves looking at pictures and making her own story to.
My three year old grandson lived to be read too. I’d love to be able to see his face light up with a new book every month.
Great idea
I would live to get books for my 17 month old grand daughter, she loves to be read to and loves to look at the pictures.
I would love these for my 15 mo th Great-Granddaughter, she loves books! Thank you Dolly Partin!!
Want to start for my Great Grandson who is 1
I have a toddler and first grader would like a book for either one ..
I run a place called the Clothes Line for foster in our area could I get a few copies of these books each month to give to Foster Families
My 3 year would absolutely love receiving mail with books ?
My grandson loves Dolly and he would love to get books from her cause he loves to read
I would like to have your books I have a grandbaby due anytime and 1 that is 3 there boys then a baby that just turned 2 she lives in a different house but uses my address could I get 2 please thank you
My grandson loves for me to read to him would love to get books for him
My daughter loves books and loves to look at all the pictures and loves when I read them to her I would love to receive books for her
My grandson loves books this is an awesome idea thank you
I’d like to know how we can get this program in Fannin County Texas. I was told a service organization has to sponsor the program. If so, how does one go about getting the information to a service organization and the cost to that organization?
Hi, Donna! There is a link in the post that leads to more info! Click on where it says, “The Imagination Library”. 🙂
Get these books for baby. I have
Ve a 3 year old grandson that looks books
.
I own a daycare in Paducah KY and our kids love reading. Our teachers read at least 10 minutes a day to the kids.
I’ve have children’s church on sundays and Wednesday night they would love to read they range from newborns and up.
This is so exciting!
I’m interested on getting books to read to my grandchildren
I’m very interested in getting books for my 2 grandkids. We love to read together
It’s fun to see my grandkids use their imagination while story book time
Reading books takes you on a journey
This is absolutely awesome, reading is very important! Thank You Dolly.
I have referred so many of our friends who have littles, to get on board, with Dolly’s Imagination Library. We live in El Paso, Texas, and a teacher friend that was trying to sign up, told me that it’s not available in El Paso. I am shocked! Dolly, please expand your program to west Texas! It is so very important to so many of the low income families, as well, as all of the little minds that are anxious to read and learn.
Thank you so very much,
Jeffrey Vaughn
I would like to get these for my grand children. they are 4 – 6- 8. The older ones love to read and the youngest like for me to read to him.
Thank you for considering them for this program.
would love this for my grandbabies
Wish this was available in Massachusetts but its not. Its great idea my 3yr old loves book.
Thanks to yiu
I would love for my granddaughter to receive the monthly book
I would like this for my grandson
What a wonderful idea from a wonderful lady…
I would love to get these for my granddaughters
My daughter and her family are a Foster family. My three grandchildren are all three in college now. They all were active and participated in taking care of each of the Foster children. They have had several children in and out for many years but especially three little boys, one after the other, who have spent a year or more with them. Each one is special in their own way and they can never have enough here to keep these kids busy. This is a wonderful program and I am sure it would be greatly appreciated. I am the Nana who is here often and hope I can surprise them with the books you are sharing. This is wonderful Thank you so much. Reading is always so important and if they can just hold a book and not a computer of some type would be great!
How can I sign my daughter up for this?
Hi, Kyna! There is a link to more info within the blog post! I hope that helps! 🙂
How can I change address for my daughters books ?
Hi Annette! There is a link to the organization right in the first paragraph of the blog post. It should lead to their site, where you should be able to get help with that! 🙂
This is amazing! My daughter is my last of 3 children and they all loved books as babies. I remember My oldest would go to goodwill for books. I’d shop the store as he sat in the book area and read away. Now my baby jus turned 2 and she asks me to read her books. She has a small collection in a designated corner in her bedroom where we sit and read. She follows through the stories and makes expressions. You’d think a 2 yr old doesn’t really knw what’s going on, but I truly believe she does. Reading is our passion. God bless u Dolly!
I’d love to get books to my 3 month great nephew and my 2 year old neighbor.
This is awesome! I love to read to my little boy while I can! Thank you! Please add him to your mailing list??
Hi, Delisha! Here is the link to more info about signing up! https://imaginationlibrary.com/
Dear Dolly we are so impressed with your library of children’s books, 2 months ago my grandson lost all of his books from the imagination library, there was a fire and they lost everything, he loved his books, and cried about them being ( Burned Up) in the fire, if there is a way to replace them it would be so much of a blessing, we would love to be able to make his Christmas brighter with his loved books, he has lost so many things, and it breaks our heart to hear him cry over his burnt up stuff, and his books is one of those things, a lot of the things can be replaced, but your books was one of the things he asked about and treasured and took great care of them, he has been getting them since birth he is now 3 years old, he is read to at nights and has learned so much from your books, so I hope there is a way to replace his books, and see a smile on his face, after all his sadness. I know that people think that this fire would not affect a child of this age, but it has truly changed him, so I pray that somehow we can bring a little joy back to him, thank you for listening, I will be awaiting a answer, God Bless you for this great program, in much love and prayers Thank You, ( Bryson’s Nanny)
Hi, Susan! I am so sorry that happened to your grandson! I would recommend reaching out to Dolly’s Imagination Library, directly. Here is their phone number:865-428-9606. I hope that helps!
My grandson gets these books and loves them. I would also like to sign up my granddaughter (different family-cousins).
That’s awesome, Michelle! There is a link to Dolly’s Imagination Library within the blog post. You should be able to sign them up there!
I have a 4 year old daughter who is really interested in books, I wish this book program would be available to us in our location. My daughter loves her music and the movie coat of many colors. I just wish this program was available to her as well.
I know, Nicole! It isn’t available in my area, either. I believe there is a place on the Imagination Library website where you can reach out to Dolly’s team and make the suggestion! She is such an awesome lady to do this for the kids!
I signed up for my son last May and haven’t received anything
Hi, Sara! I would reach out to them directly. Here is the website:https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/#selectedCountry=US Good luck!
Hi,
My name is Dianne Turnbow. I am a preschool teacher at Christ the King Early Education Center. I was wondering if I can sign my class up to receive 1 book each month. I feel that even if some of my students belong to Dolly’s Imagination Library, reading the same books at school will make for a great home to school connection. Moreover, repetition is great. I love when my students can finish the sentences in the books I read to them, or retell the stories. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for broadening so many young minds and encourage reading in so many homes.
Sincerely,
Dianne Turnbow
Hi, Dianne! Here is the link so that you can contact them directly to sign up: https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/#selectedCountry=US
This use to be available in indiana but it’s no longer available and my oldest son was getting books from them before they stopped the program here in indiana
Aw, I’m sorry to hear that, Nicole!
I would love to sign up for my grandson please
Hi, Sandra! There is a link to the Imagination Library in the post. You have to sign up directly with them! Here is the link if it helps: https://imaginationlibrary.com/
My Granddaughter is enrolled and loves the books. She has is read them to her over and over. How can I change the address where they are delivered? They have moved and I would hate the books to stop coming.
That’s amazing, Angela. It’s such an incredible program! I would reach out to them directly if I were you. Here is the link: https://imaginationlibrary.com/
Dear Dolly and company: I wonder if you’ve seen the recent flooding in Kentucky. I have a dear friend whose home was washedof all of their possessions, and their young daughter Hanna, who dearly loved her “books from Dolly” has lost them all.. is there anything can becrone for her? Please? Thank you for your time. ~Shannon
Hi, Shannon! I would reach out to Dolly and the Imagination Library directly if I were you!
My great nephew and niece (twins) would love to get books.
Hi, Pam! Here is the link where you can get more information and sign up: https://imaginationlibrary.com/ Enjoy! 🙂