The Imagination Library began with a simple idea in the place Dolly always called home.

Inspired by her father, Dolly wanted to make sure that every young child in Sevier County, Tennessee, could have books of their very own, regardless of their family’s circumstances. She hoped those books would encourage children to love reading, dream more and believe that their own possibilities were bigger than they might imagine.

I don’t think any of us could have known just how far that simple idea would travel.

Today, in communities across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Australia, children open their mailboxes to find a book with their name on it because people in their own communities decided Dolly’s dream was worth sharing.

Dolly’s legacy will certainly live on through the songs she wrote, the characters she created and the joy she brought to millions of people. But I believe some of her most important legacy will live quietly in homes around the world — in the moments when a parent reads to a child, when a little hand turns a page, when a favorite story is requested one more time before bed, or when a child begins to believe that there is a bigger world waiting for them.

Research consistently shows that children who are read to regularly develop stronger language, literacy, and school readiness skills. By putting books into the hands of children from birth to age five, Dolly’s vision helped lay the foundation for future learning success. Dolly understood that a book is more than a book. It can spark imagination, build supporting vocabulary, strengthen family bonds, and open the door to a lifetime of learning.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides a free book every month to children living in Person County, ages birth up to five years old. Participating children receive an age appropriate book each month, mailed directly to the child from the time of registration until age 5. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library supports preparing children for kindergarten by exposing children to the concepts of print, encouraging child/parent reading, and increasing early literacy skills.

To register, click here or call Becky Fox at 336-599-3773.