Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is one of her most successful endeavors, and that’s saying something. Since she founded it in 1995, the Imagination Library has given away over 186 million books to kids, helping young readers — especially from poor households — develop their own mini-library. Now, the state of California is partnering with Parton to expand her program to the Golden State. As of next summer, any Californian child can receive free books from Parton every month from the day they’re born until they turn five.
“Today marks a significant day, the beginning of a magnificent statewide program which will put books in the hands of California children at a young age, opening the door to limitless possibility for their future,” said Sen. Shannon Grove, who co-authored the bill that was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill flew through with bipartisan support, because who’s going to say no to Dolly Parton?
The program is open to any of California 2.4 million kids, whose parents or legal guardians can sign them up here.
In a 2018 address to the Library of Congress, Parton said that she started the Library to honor her father, Robert Lee Parton Sr., who had never learned to read. “I had the idea to do something special for him,” she said. “You know, in the Bible where it talks about honoring your father and your mother. I don’t think that necessarily means just to obey them. I think it means to bring honor to their name.”
