When 3‑year‑old Simon Dockery walks to the mailbox in Cleveland, Georgia, he knows a new story is waiting. Since his infancy, the Imagination Library—founded by the late country‑music icon Dolly Parton—has mailed a personalized picture book to his home each month. Now his infant brother Samuel, just 11 months old, receives his own books, extending the family’s growing library.
Local families find joy in free books
“It’s so exciting and for our family it was like a launch point for just the love of books,” said mother Olivia Dockery, 30. She added that the monthly deliveries have become a ritual, with the oldest eagerly awaiting the next parcel. The program, which provides a free, age‑appropriate book to every enrolled child from birth until age five, has turned a simple mailbox visit into a celebration of literacy.
Dockery recalled that she did not grow up with a strong reading habit. “I didn’t grow up with a love of books,” she said. “Something that we want to instill is just a love of literature. Having these books provided for us each month just kind of continues that fire.”
Imagination Library’s national reach
Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995, inspired by her father’s inability to read or write. What began as a local effort in her home county of Sevier, Tennessee, now spans five countries and has distributed more than 300 million free books worldwide. In the nation’s capital, more than 100,000 children have benefited through a partnership with the D.C. Public Library, according to library executive director Richard Reyes‑Gavilan.
Parents like Shami Chimonyo, who enrolled her 7‑month‑old daughter shortly after birth, cite concerns about declining literacy rates as motivation. “I love that the books are extremely well‑written and have great grammar, as well as just they’re a great visual for young learners,” Chimonyo said. “It’s just a treat that we’re looking forward to continue having and receiving.”
How the program works
Each child’s book is selected based on age, personalized with the child’s name, and mailed directly to the home. The consistent, monthly arrival creates a sense of anticipation and reinforces reading as a regular part of family life. For families in small towns like Cleveland, the program offers a reliable source of high‑quality literature without cost.
Community leaders and educators see the Imagination Library as a valuable tool for early childhood development, supporting language skills, imagination, and a lifelong love of reading. As more families join, the ripple effect strengthens the cultural fabric of neighborhoods across Georgia and the nation.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
