Dolly Parton, inspired by her father's inability to read or write, launched the Imagination Library in 1995 in her hometown of Sevier County, Tenn. The goal of the program was to foster an early love of reading and learning.
Since then, it has become the premier, book-gifting program that mails FREE books to registered children every month from birth to age 5.
How Does it Work?
Participating children receive one free, age-appropriate book through the mail each month, until they turn five. After registering, the first book, "The Little Engine That Could," will take about 90 days to arrive in the mail. Books will then continue to be mailed once a month until the child’s fifth birthday.
Books are carefully selected to be high-quality and age-appropriate. Book selections include braille and bilingual options.
Who is Eligible?
Children ages birth to 5 residing in Washington County, Wisconsin, are eligible to participate. Because it takes approximately 90 days before the first book arrives, children turning five within three months of registration will not receive a book.
You may not sign up a child without a birth date.
There is no income requirement to participate in Imagination Library.
When Will I Receive Books?
Books will begin arriving at your home six to nine weeks after your registration form has been received and will continue until your child turns five or you move out of Washington County.
Why is Reading Important for Young Children?
A child's brain is 90% developed by the age of five. Early childhood literacy and reading aloud to kids are crucial for language development, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. These activities strengthen cognitive skills, enhance vocabulary, and foster emotional bonds between children and caregivers. Early exposure to reading also significantly improves future academic success.
Literacy has and always will be the most valuable skill we can provide to our children. At United Way, we believe in providing sustainable tools to Washington County residents. Research has shown that children with access to this program have improved their reading level by 28.9%, compared to children who have not participated in the program.
How do I enroll my child?
Enrolling your child in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is easy! If you are a resident of Washington County, Wisconsin, you can register online using the link below.
You also can download the registration form by CLICKING HERE and mailing it to United Way of Washington County at the address below.
Mailing Address:
United Way of Washington County
P.O. Box 304
West Bend, WI 53095
There is no cost to families to participate in Imagination Library. Funding from United Way of Washington County, as well as generous contributions from local sponsors, provide books at no cost to our community's families.
The first book the child will receive is always The "Little Engine that Could," and the final book received is always "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come." Children will be mailed age-appropriate books in between. All books are printed through Penguin Publishing, and reading tips are provided on a flap on the back of each softcover book.
Each year, the esteemed Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee, a specially selected panel of early childhood literacy experts, is responsible for reviewing hundreds of potential titles for inclusion in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Yes, if there are multiple children under five in a household, each child is eligible to enroll. The Dollywood Foundation switches out 18-20 books each year to ensure children in the same family won’t always get the same books at the same age. Please note that twins and multiples will receive the same book selection.
It will take approximately 90 days before the first book arrives. Books will then continue to be mailed once a month until the child’s fifth birthday.
Books are shipped at different times of the month based on age.
If you provided an email address during registration, a parent account is automatically created for you. Once your child is approved and active in the program, parent account information, including your username and password, is emailed to you. Your username is always your email address. With your parent account, you can do things such as check your child's enrollment status, edit your address and view a list of the titles mailed each month.
Registrations received online will be placed into a pending area until the program coordinator reviews their information. Once the registration is approved, the child becomes active in the program, and the parent will receive an email.
The accounts of children that have recently moved are flagged and also moved into a pending area until their address is updated. Please note that a child's status may only remain in the pending area for up to 60 days before being permanently removed from the system.
It is important to contact United Way of Washington County at 262-338-3821 or operations@unitedwayofwashingtoncounty.org if there is a change of address, or update it via your parent account.
Filling out a change of address form at the post office will not change your address with Imagination Library, and books will not be forwarded to you. If you move to another location within Washington County while your child(ren) are under age five, they are eligible to continue participating in Imagination Library, but you must update their address.
To do so, either log into your Imagination Library parent account, or contact United Way at 262-338-3821 or operations@unitedwayofwashingtoncounty.org.
You will need to provide the following information: child's first and last name, previous address, and new address. If leaving a voicemail, please spell the child's name.
There are many ways to help promote our Imagination Library program and share the love of reading.
Advocate
Share our Facebook posts and the registration link with friends and family who may be interested in enrolling their children.
Give
Help provide books to local children by supporting United Way of Washington County. A donation of $26 will provide one year of Imagination Library books to a child.
You can support early childhood literacy in Washington County. A gift of only $26 sponsors a child for a year in the Imagination Library program.