Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library kicks off the fall season by celebrating fresh milestones in its expansion efforts and promoting positive reading habits with an imaginative lineup of autumn books!
Dolly’s book-gifting program has now gifted over 251 million books to children across the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. As we embark upon the fall season, the Imagination Library continues to inspire more children around the world to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More!TM
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) welcomed Dolly to Missouri on August 27 to celebrate the success of her Imagination Library. This Statewide Imagination Library Celebration followed last November's announcement that every child in Missouri is now eligible to participate in the program, receiving one free, high-quality, age-appropriate book per month until their fifth birthday.
Out of all the statewide programs, no other state has launched a fully funded program with all children under age five eligible from the very first day of the statewide rollout.
On the same day, Dolly visited Kentucky, where Governor Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear welcomed her to celebrate Kentucky’s success in expanding the program to every county in the commonwealth.
More than 500 local Imagination Library program partners, library staff, literacy advocates, and others who contributed to the expansion gathered at the historic Lyric Theatre in downtown Lexington. They heard inspiring words from Dolly and celebrated this major milestone. Now, every child in Kentucky can receive one free book per month, from birth to age 5, ensuring they can build their own at-home library before starting kindergarten.
In July, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library celebrated a significant milestone with its authority-wide expansion in East Riding of Yorkshire, UK, made possible by a £500,000 investment from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Now, all children in East Riding are eligible to receive FREE books each month from birth to age five!
The celebration continued into August, when the Imagination Library gifted its 6 millionth book in the UK! This achievement was made possible by the support of over 435 incredible organizations across the country. Thanks to these local partners and supporters, the Imagination Library is making a lasting impact by inspiring a love of reading in children throughout the UK.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading and learning by gifting books, free of charge, to families via funding shared by Dolly and local community partners. Autumn is a wonderful time of year to spark the imagination by spending more time reading! Here are a few of the specially selected, age-appropriate books going out to registered children this fall.
"Red Sky at Night" is a memorable collection of weather sayings, beautifully arranged in story form and illustrated by renowned paper artist Elly MacKay. #DollysLibrary #CanadaBook #ReadOnCanada
Turn the pages of this adorable board book, perfect for little fingers, as your baby guesses the sound each animal makes!
Perfect for bedtime reading, this witty picture book by Ed Vere is a joyful and inspirational celebration of beauty, mistakes and the artist in all of us.
Check availability in your area to register a child, sign up to receive a notification when the Imagination Library becomes available to you or learn more about how to Start A Program in your area.
As the season unfolds with its vibrant energy and long, lazy days, Dolly dives headfirst into the joy of summer, infusing it with her own special brand of magic. With days filled with sunshine, laughter, and the sweet melodies of summer, she invites you to join in the joy and experience everything she loves about this vibrant time of year.
"Summer is like a big ol' party that nature throws every year," Dolly says. "It's a time to be a little more carefree, feel the sunshine on your face, and enjoy the simple pleasures with those you love."
Take a closer look at everything Dolly has in store this summer!
Guests to Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration, happening now through August 11, can enjoy all the Smoky Mountain sights, sounds, and tastes, as well as the brand-new Dolly Parton Experience and the returning favorite Sweet Summer Nights Dance Party and Drone Show.
Celebrate summer at the World’s Most Visited Dinner Attraction®, featuring thrilling horse riding stunts, phenomenal musical productions, incredible special effects, and a mouthwatering four-course feast.
Set sail on an action-packed summer adventure at Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, where you'll witness epic pirate battles and high-diving mermaids, all while enjoying a delectable four-course feast.
Dolly’s childhood literacy program celebrates reaching a new milestone, now gifting over 3 million books per month to children worldwide, while expanding its bilingual program to five additional states and launching a statewide expansion in Oregon.
Dolly announced from the stage of the CMA Fest in Nashville that she will partner with ATG Productions to bring a new musical inspired by her life and trailblazing career, titled Hello, I’m Dolly, to Broadway in 2026.
Dolly introduces her first collection of wines, Dolly Wines, hitting stores in July 2024 and now exclusively available for pre-sale through Vivino on DollyWines.com.
Dolly, in collaboration with Owepar Entertainment, is thrilled to announce an unprecedented exploration of her rich family heritage with the upcoming release of 'Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables,' set for release on November 15. Additionally, a companion four-part docuseries chronicling her rich family heritage is currently in production.
Building upon the success of two GRAMMY® nominations and coming off the first leg of a national tour with Lauren Daigle, two-time DOVE Award winner Blessing Offor has released a brand-new song collaboration with Dolly Parton, titled “Somebody’s Child.”
Whether you’re hosting a girls' night or a backyard barbeque, Dolly's collections of partyware are the perfect theme for your event. From festive paper plates to decorated napkins, wooden cutlery and décor, find items from the "I Beg Your Parton" and "Patriotic Butterflies" design collections on Amazon today!
As we bask in the warm glow of summer and embrace its carefree spirit, let's celebrate the joyful moments, both big and small, that make this season truly magical.
Sittin’ on the front porch on a summer afternoon
In a straightback chair on two legs, leaned against the wall
Watch the kids a playin’ with June bugs on a string
And chase the glowin’ fireflies when evening shadows fall
In my Tennessee mountain home
Life is as peaceful as a baby’s sigh
In my Tennessee mountain home
Crickets sing in the fields near by
Love,
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library opens a new chapter this summer as the program celebrates a significant milestone in early childhood literacy, while continuing its expansion efforts to inspire a love of reading in children all over the world.
Dolly’s childhood literacy program now gifts over 3 MILLION books each month and, as of June 2024, the Imagination Library has gifted over 244 million books to children across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
In June, the Imagination Library celebrates an exciting new milestone: reaching 3 MILLION children under the age of five registered worldwide. Special thanks to over 2,800 local affiliates globally, whose dedication makes it possible to gift over 3 million books to children each month around the world.
Dolly’s renowned early childhood literacy program has recently made significant strides in expanding its reach by kicking off statewide expansion in Oregon. This expansion marks an exciting development in providing access to free books for children in Oregon, furthering the program's mission of inspiring a love of reading and learning in children from birth to age five.
Currently, over 54,000 children across Oregon receive the gift of a monthly book through 55 community programs. Books are free to the family regardless of family income. The goal of the statewide expansion is to make books available to children ages 0-5 in every zip code in Oregon.
Check availability to enroll a child and visit back often as the program expands across the state.
After successfully launching its Bilingual English/Spanish book program in California in 2023, the Imagination Library has now successfully rolled out its Bilingual Book Collection in five new states: Tennessee, D.C., North Carolina, Ohio, and Delaware!
As of June 2024, existing and new families in those five states will get the option of which Language Book Collection they would like to receive:
1. English (Mostly English books with an occasional bilingual English/Spanish book)
2. Bilingual English/Spanish option (Every book is bilingual English/Spanish)
Thanks to all of our partners who made this possible, allowing us to inspire a love of reading in even more children and families across the United States!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading and learning by gifting books, free of charge, to families via funding shared by Dolly and local community partners. Summer is a wonderful time of year to spark the imagination, not only by spending more time playing, but also by spending more time reading! Here are a few of the specially selected, age-appropriate books going out to registered children this summer.
In this vibrant book by Eric Carle, join the Very Hungry Caterpillar on a sunny summer day and enjoy everything the season has to offer!
Ice cream lovers everywhere will enjoy this delicious book by Heidi Woodward Sheffield that brings to life the anxiety and elation involved in waiting in line to get ice cream.
Gorgeous cut-paper art illuminates this sweet, heartfelt picture book that shows how special being little can be. Written by Kallie George and illustrated by Elly MacKay.
Check availability in your area to register a child, sign up to receive a notification when the Imagination Library becomes available to you or learn more about how to Start A Program in your area.
As spring blooms all around, Dolly dives headfirst into the season's joy, infusing it with her own special sparkle and boundless energy. With flowers blooming and the sun shining brighter, she welcomes you to join in the springtime fun and share in everything she loves about this season.
"Spring is like nature's big 'hello' after a long winter nap," Dolly says. "The flowers bloomin' and birds chirpin' make us all feel like kids again, reminding us to soak up the sunshine and spread love wherever we go."
Take a closer look at everything Dolly has in store this spring!
Dolly kicked off the 39th season at Dollywood on March 8, introducing some of the new entertainment offerings and giving guests a preview of what's in store for 2024, including the opening of The Dolly Parton Experience and an extra 23 operating days.
Recently named one of the South’s Best Attractions by Southern Living, Dollywood welcomes guests this spring with The I Will Always Love You Music Festival (now–April 14), featuring three new shows celebrating Dolly’s career. Her remarkable story is told in “From the Heart—The Life & Music of Dolly Parton,” while “Sing-a-long with Dolly” invites guests to belt out the lyrics to some of her most-loved songs. Finally, “Trio, Again featuring Three Times A Lady” honors the “Trio” albums released by Dolly, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt.
Dolly Parton’s Stampede, in both Pigeon Forge, TN, and Branson, MO, welcomes families to celebrate spring at the World’s Most Visited Dinner Attraction, featuring daring feats of trick riding, friendly competition, music, dancing, and a mouthwatering four-course feast.
Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure at Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show! With locations in both Pigeon Forge, TN, and Branson, MO, families will witness epic pirate battles and high-diving mermaids, all while enjoying a delectable four-course feast.
Dolly’s childhood literacy program celebrates its 2024 Blue Ribbon Book Selections, springing forward into 2024 with a colorful selection of new books! The Imagination Library now gifts over 2.9 million books per month, totaling over 235 million books worldwide since inception!
You can now stream "Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala" on Paramount+! This CBS variety special, which aired on February 21, features musical performances of Dolly Parton's iconic songs and showcases the finest in doggy fashion.
Dolly lends her legendary talents to Zach Williams' newest single "Lookin' For You", accompanied by a brand new music video. Available now on all digital and streaming platforms!
In Good Lookin' Cookin', available Sept. 17, Dolly and her sister Rachel share tips for hosting events all year long, including twelve multi-course menus of cherished recipes for New Year’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more.
Dolly announces the launch of her first multi-category home collection featuring a wide array of home, kitchen and tableware products inspired by her Tennessee roots and global legacy. The collection kicks off with the launch of cast iron cookware developed in partnership with Lodge Cast Iron, available in stores and online retailers March 2024.
Available now on all digital streaming platforms, 'Rockstar Deluxe' features 39 tracks, 5 bonus tracks previously released as partner exclusives and 4 never-before-heard songs.
As the world begins to burst with new life this spring, keep an eye out for the rainbows that start to appear through the clouds. Let this amazing time of year put a big smile on your face and a song in your heart.
Together you and I can stop the rain and make the sun shine
Paint a pretty rainbow brushed with love across the sky
Together you and I belong like a songbird and a song
And we’ll always be together you and I
Love,
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library springs forward into 2024 by providing blossoming young minds a colorful selection of new books!
Dolly’s childhood literacy program now gifts over 2.9 MILLION books each month, with 1 in 7 children under the age of five in the United States receiving an Imagination Library book in the mail each month! As of March 2024, the Imagination Library has gifted over 235 million books to children across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. As we enter into spring, the Imagination Library continues to inspire more children around the world to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More!™
Each year, the esteemed Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committees, composed of specially selected panels of early childhood literacy experts from the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland, meticulously review hundreds of potential titles for inclusion in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. These committees take great care in selecting books that align with children’s developmental milestones as they grow, while also featuring titles relevant to their respective countries. The program offers books published by Penguin Random House alongside country-specific content.
See all of the specially selected, age appropriate, high quality Imagination Library books slated for distribution to children in 2024!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading and learning by gifting books to families, free of charge, via funding shared by Dolly and local community partnerships. Spring is a wonderful time of year to let your child’s reading skills bloom by joining them and opening a good book together! Celebrate springtime with a few of these specially selected, age-appropriate books going out to registered children this spring.
Written by Kate McMullan and illustrated by Alison Friend, this beautiful picture book teaches the importance of taking care of our environment.
Iconic moments from the beloved Anne of Green Gables stories are recreated in this adorable concept book with colorful illustrations by Kelly Hill.
Find out where everyone's favorite caterpillar is hiding in this lift-the-flap book that lets little readers join in the fun as they search for this beloved character by Eric Carle.
Check availability in your area to register a child, sign up to receive a notification when the Imagination Library becomes available to you or learn more about how to Start A Program in your area.
