Key facts
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mails one free book monthly to children from birth to age five.
- The program was founded in 1995 to honor Dolly Parton's father, who could not read or write.
- Over 300 million books have been distributed globally by the program.
- Families credit the program with establishing reading routines and aiding children's social and emotional development.
- The initiative has expanded to include the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Ireland.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a philanthropic initiative launched in 1995, has inspired millions of children worldwide by providing free books. The program, founded by the late global superstar Dolly Parton, aims to foster a love of reading and support early childhood literacy.
Parton established the program in her home county of Sevier, Tennessee, in honor of her father, who was unable to read or write due to his challenging Appalachian upbringing. She expressed on the Imagination Library's website that her father's inability to read likely prevented him from fulfilling his potential, making inspiring children to read her personal mission.
The Imagination Library mails one free book each month to children from birth up to age five. It began its expansion across the United States in 2000, followed by launches in Canada in 2006, the UK in 2007, Australia in 2013, and Ireland in 2019. By 2025, coinciding with the program's 30th anniversary, it had distributed over 300 million books, averaging one book mailed every 78 seconds.
Families who have received books through the program have shared profound impacts. Harriet Anscombe, a mother of two from London, signed up her daughter at three months old and credits the books with embedding a reading routine from infancy. Ciara Fernandez Faber from Colorado shared that her son, who received books for about eight years, affectionately called Parton "The Book Queen" and particularly loved Parton's own book, "I Am A Rainbow."
Parents and guardians noted that the curated book selections not only aided in reading development but also in social and emotional growth, addressing themes such as bravery, bullying, and diverse family structures. Author Selina Brown highlighted how the program promotes authors like herself, with 14,000 copies of her book, featuring a Black protagonist, sent to children in the UK. Paige Stewart in Sydney, Australia, observed significant progress in her twin daughters, who had speech delays, after they began receiving books.
Kristina Hadley, a grandmother from Alabama, actively promotes the program and incorporates Imagination Library suggestions into gifts for new mothers. She expressed that the program will ensure Parton's memory lives on with younger generations. Geoff Blacklin of Manitoba, Canada, noted that Parton's philanthropic efforts were quiet and not for recognition, emphasizing that she gave families more than just books, but a love of reading and opportunities to learn and dream.
Parton herself stated that her father considered the Imagination Library the most important thing she had ever done, a tribute to him. The program's global reach, now serving over 3 million children monthly, represents the realization of her initial hope to inspire children in her home county.