How to Get 60 Free Children’s Books From Dolly Parton
There are many reasons to love Dolly Parton. In addition to being one of the best singer-songwriters of all time, she is a fashion icon, feminist and philanthropist. Her charitable contributions even helped fund the discovery of a COVID-19 vaccine. All this and she sends kids free books?
Yes, the country star and theme park namesake Dollywood is also the founder of the nonprofit Imagination Library. The program, which aims to provide free books to children under the age of five, was inspired by Parton’s father, who could neither read nor write when she was growing up, fueling the singer’s passion for literacy.
Once you enroll your eligible child in the program, you will begin receiving one free book every month, delivered to your home, until their 5th birthday (up to a total of 60 books). According to the organization’s website , it has donated nearly 227 million books to children in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Australia since 1995, with more than 29 million books given away last year alone.
Enrolling your children in this service is a relatively simple task. There are no difficult requirements other than meeting age criteria and living in the region served by the program. Read on to find out how your family can get involved.
How to subscribe to the Imagination Library
To get free books from Dolly Parton (or rather, from her charitable foundation), you’ll first need to find out if there’s an Imagination library in your area. Start by visiting your organization’s accessibility page . Once there, select your country and enter your postcode.
If the program is available in your area, you will need to provide your mailing address and some personal information (name and age) about your child on the next page. If you don’t like online, contact your local branch to register directly. (If the program is not available where you live, the website will prompt you to join a mailing list so you know if and when that changes.)
As noted, income is not a factor in participation in the Dolly Parton Book Club program, so any child can participate, regardless of family financial status. As long as the branch is located in your region, you can register your child.
What books will I receive?
When you enroll your child in the Imagination Library from birth, you will receive up to 60 different books – one for each month of your child’s life, from birth to age 5. The books selected will change monthly, but the first and last books are always the same: Each child begins the program with the classic book “The Little Engine That Could” and ends with “Kindergarten Here I Come!”
According to the organization, the books you’ll receive will be age-appropriate and promote diversity, self-confidence and the importance of the arts. They are also available in audio and braille formats for children with hearing and visual impairments. Past selections have included Last Stop on Market Street , Peter Rabbit and The Big Book.
What if there is no Imagination Library branch in my area?
If you don’t have an Imagination library in your area, you can start an Imagination library branch.
To begin, you will need to find ways to financially cover the wholesale cost of the books as well as the cost of mailing them out, which you can do through fundraising or seeking partnerships. Books are sent at special non-profit rates, so you will also need to find a non-profit partner, such as a school district or charity, to qualify for these rates.
If you’re ready to get started, click here for more tips on how to get started with an Imagination Library affiliate and get more books into the hands of kids.