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!
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! 🙂
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 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/
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/
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!
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
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!
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!
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!
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!