Dolly Parton’s Book Program Reaches 1 in 7 U.S. Kids Under 5. How Much Longer?

Dolly Parton's book program reaches 1 in 7 U.S. kids under 5. How much longer?

Funding challenges have arisen in at least four states, and Parton's foundation now carries the program.

Dolly Parton, a healthcare hero

In 1995, Dolly Parton launched Parton’s Imagination Library, which, since then, has mailed more than 330 million free books to children age one through five. Common sense would tell us this is a good thing, but now several scientific studies have shown the program’s immense benefit. Dolly’s program certainly had rough but fertile ground to […]

Dolly Parton’s book program reaches 1 in 7 U.S. kids under 5. How much longer?

If they were set end to end, these books would circle the earth 1.8 times. This free program mails an age-appropriate book monthly to each enrolled child from birth to age 5, meaning up to 60 books will fill these children’s shelves by the time they graduate from the program. Though a selection committee tweaks […]