Dolly Parton Imagination Library to send free books to kids across Missouri. How it works
People of all ages love the surprise of getting a present in the mail.
And starting this week, preschool-aged kids across Missouri can enjoy this treat every month until they turn 5 years old. In this case, the present will be a book — courtesy of Dolly Parton.
The Missouri Department of Education announced Wednesday that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, an international nonprofit focused on fostering a love of reading among young kids, is expanding to cover the entire state.
The program was already active in some parts of Missouri, but now covers all of the state’s children under the age of 5. The program is already in effect statewide in Kansas.
How Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library works
Parents can enroll their child in the Imagination Library program online at any age between infancy and their fifth birthday.
Each month, the program will mail out an age-appropriate book addressed to their child until they turn 5 years old.
The first book every child receives in the United States is The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper, while the last book they receive is Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! By Nancy Carlson.
Other titles vary month to month, but are chosen based on the child’s age group by early childhood educators and professionals. Books are also available in Spanish, Braille and in audiobook format.
Funding for the books comes from both the Dollywood Foundation and your local Missouri school district, which gets funding from the state specifically for the program. Imagination Library books are mailed out to kids at no cost to their families, and are theirs to keep forever.
Do you have more questions about early childhood education in Missouri or Kansas? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
