Get Free Books for Kids by Mail

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Fact checked by Adah Chung on May 11, 2020

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Adah Chung
on May 11, 2020
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Donates 100 Millionth Book To Library Of Congress

Shannon Finey / Getty Images 

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program mails children a free book each month from birth until they are 5 years old. These are high-quality books that are chosen by experts in education and publishing and are based on the child's age.

The mission of this book club, founded in 1995, is to foster a love of learning in children, making the experience of reading fun and meaningful. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is available in over 2,000 communities in five countries. The program currently sends free books to over 1 million children.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Books

The free books available from Dolly Parton's program are a mixture of classic and contemporary fiction and non-fiction for children. Children get a book appropriate for their age on subjects like rhyming, nursery rhymes, letters, safety, diversity, and school preparation. See the concepts and themes for each age group for more details.

The books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library strive to showcase diversity, help build self-confidence, and show the importance of the arts and its impact on the world. Past titles have included: 

  • The Little Engine That Could
  • Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!
  • The Bug Book
  • Peace Is an Offering
  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit
  • Pretend
  • The First Strawberries
  • Violet the Pilot
  • Jake at Gymnastics
  • Plenty of Love to Go Around
  • Last Stop on Market Street

How to Get Free Books for Your Child

To see if Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is available in your area, visit the availability page, choose your country and enter your zip code. Children living in participating communities in the United States, Canada, Australia, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom are eligible to get free books.

If the program is available for you, go through the steps of registering your child (submitting your mailing dress and information about your child). If online registration isn't available, or you prefer not to register online, contact your local affiliate to sign up your child.

Once You've Registered

Every month, your child will receive a new book from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in the mail. Be sure that you have entered your correct mailing address and email address so that program staff can contact you if necessary.

Make the most of the free books by checking out the parent resources, including reading tips, printable worksheets, and extra stories.

Starting a Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Affiliate

If the Dolly Parton book program isn't available in your area, you can learn how you can become an Imagination Library Local Champion and help start a program. The Imagination Library is supported by local organizations and individuals who want to volunteer their time helping children in their community get free books. A regional representative will help you get the process going.

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  1. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Program Overview. Updated 2017.

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