Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Gift the Love of Reading
What is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, otherwise referred to as Imagination Library, is an early literacy program. The program is available to all Yampa Valley children, who are currently between the ages of birth to five. Each child will receive 60 age-appropriate books over the course of five years. The books are hand-selected by a panel of early literacy professionals as a program of the Dollywood Foundation. The selection of books even includes two bilingual titles per year.
Imagination Library for Moffat County is ran by Connection 4 Kids.
How Does The Program Work?
Families enroll their children at birth, or any time after birth through age (e.g., you can sign up your three year old), through United Way of the Yampa Valley. Every month until age 5, a free age appropriate book is mailed directly to the child’s home with the child’s name on the envelope. The child will have the free opportunity to build their own library with books of their own.
Why Begin So Early?
Books in the home have been consistently proven to be an indicator of a child’s academic success. During the a child’s years of birth to age five, this time is considered a very important developmental period for a child’s brain. Substantial research links the importance of early literacy to children’s future success in school and career.
The Imagination Library provides the resources necessary to every child in the Yampa Valley in order for them to develop the skill necessary for success. Research shows between 66% and 75% of families read more to their children after receiving the Imagination Library books. Most importantly, children develop a lifelong love of learning and reading.
How can you help?
- $25 supports one child for one year, supplying the child with 12 books.
- $125 supports one child from birth to age 5, supplying the child with all 60 books.
- $1,250 supports ten children from birth to age 5, supplying each of the ten children with all 60 books.
- $5,000 supports 40 children from birth to age 5, supplying each of the 40 children with all 60 books.
Yampa Valley Child Registration
Families enroll their children at birth, or any time after birth through age (e.g., you can sign up your three year old), through United Way of the Yampa Valley at one of the following registration locations. Every month until age 5, a free age appropriate book is mailed directly to the child’s home with the child’s name on the envelope. The child will have the free opportunity to build their own library with books of their own.
Please be aware of the eight to ten week processing period for new registrations. Children who are registered by the 25th day of the month will received their first book within ten weeks from the registration date. For example, registrations submitted by February 25th will receive book by April 31st.
Non Yampa Valley Child Registration: Book Gift Program
Do you have a grandchild, niece, nephew, or other child in your life from birth to age five? With a $250 donation, you can gift The Dolly Parton Imagination Library to two children; sponsoring one child in the Yampa Valley and one outside of the country. Enhance childhood development and increase literacy by providing one book per month, from birth to age five, for two children with your sponsorship.
Please be aware of the eight to ten week processing period for new registrations. Children who are registered by the 25th day of the month will received their first book within ten weeks from the registration date. For example, registrations submitted by February 25th will receive book by April 31st.
