Dolly Parton will publish "Coat of Many Colors," a picture book for young readers, with Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, on October 18, 2016. The book, with all-new illustrations by Brooke Boynton Hughes, will feature "Making Fun Ain't Funny," a downloadable exclusive original song written by Dolly.
Using lyrics from her classic song "Coat of Many Colors," and inspired by Dolly’s rural upbringing in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, the picture book tells the story of a young girl in need of a warm winter coat. When her mother sews her a coat made of rags, the girl is mocked by classmates for being poor. But Dolly's trademark positivity carries through to the end as the girl realizes that her coat was made with love "in every stitch."
Francesco Sedita, President and Publisher, Grosset & Dunlap, said,
“As someone who grew up listening to Dolly Parton with my family, having this very special opportunity to work on the 'Coat of Many Colors' picture book has been a lifelong dream come true. The book—and the song, of course—really speaks to how important family and community is. And how vital it is to respect those around us and to be grateful for what we have. I believe this book is one that will be passed down for generations to come.”
Coat of Many Colors is the latest project in Dolly’s longtime mission to foster a love of reading in children from a young age. In 1988, she began the Dollywood Foundation to inspire children in her home community to dream more, learn more, care more, and be more. The Foundation’s signature program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, works with local affiliates to give every preschool child a book each month from birth to age five. The Imagination Library has gifted over 80 million books in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. The program has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with Penguin Random House.
Following the publication of the book, NBC will air the sequel to last year’s hit television movie "Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors." In "Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love," the Partons, a family of humble means living in the mountains of Tennessee, face a devastating event that challenges their will. But when they experience a bewildering Christmas miracle, the Partons are drawn closer together than ever—with deepened faith and love for one another.
This summer, Dolly will embark on her "Pure & Simple" tour traveling to 60 cities across North America. The tour includes a stop in Pigeon Forge, TN on Nov. 15 benefiting Dolly's Imagination Library.
Brooke Boynton Hughes is an artist and illustrator originally from Loveland, Colorado. She received her BFA in Printmaking from Colorado State University and her MFA in Figurative Art from the New York Academy of Art. Brooke works on children's books and travels around the country with her husband, Bill, and their dog, Olive.
Penguin Random House is the world’s most global trade book publisher. Its publishing lists include more than 70 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.
Learn more about Dolly's second children's book "I Am a Rainbow."
