LINK to register for IMAGINATION LIBRARY

When our first grandson was born, my lovely DIL, Ashley, told us about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. At first, I felt guilty about signing up, knowing that we had ample access to books and libraries. But, when we looked into it and the marvelous books she sends out (across five countries!) we just had to participate. As Dolly herself says, “You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children”. So here’s my small part, hoping to encourage you to get your children’s hands on Dolly’s recommended books.

“Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly started her Imagination Library in 1995 for the children within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts over 2 million free books each month to children around the world. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Republic of Ireland” (ImaginationLibrary.com).

Here’s a quote from Dolly herself, ” When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer. The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world, ” (imaginationlibrary.com).

The books we’ve received from Imagination Library are some of our absolute favorites. Some are classics that will forever teach lessons (The Little Engine That Could) and others are clever and heart-warming stories that are new and fresh to those of us who think they know children’s books (Llama, Llama Red Pajama and Solitary Animals). Dolly herself wrote one of the stories that arrived this winter, “I am a Rainbow“, about our many emotions and how to use them properly, such a relevant story for kids and adults alike.

I’ll admit, I’ve been frustrated at the fact that so many celebrities are writing children’s books. I’ve thought, “I wish they would just stay in their lanes and make way for the rest of us to have a chance to become authors!” But this is different. Dolly is promoting (and writing) and giving away books, all over the globe. I can only respect that and be filled with gratitude for how she’s affecting hearts and minds and dreams all over the world. She’s beautiful, she’s funny, she inspires me spiritually (her gospel songs, wow), she can act, and (understatement) the woman can sing. So yes, we can all use a little Dolly and can benefit from her generosity as we Book Time with Our Kids!

All of this leads me to ask, “What doesn’t Dolly do?” I don’t know, but I sure admire all that she does. And, I’m grateful for these gifts of books that promote learning and plant the seeds of dreams!

Celebrating 30 years and over 3,000,000 children registered to receive books!

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