Child Care Action Council Launches Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in Mason and Thurston Counties
Beginning Wednesday, March 2nd, Mason and Thurston County families with children from birth up to five years old will have the opportunity to enroll their children in Dolly Parton’s free book gifting program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Child Care Action Council has signed on to become the local affiliate for the Imagination Library, providing age-appropriate books each month to eligible children, at no cost to the family.
“Since its inception, Child Care Action Council has worked to identify early learning needs in the community and to address those needs by implementing impactful, equitable programming,” shared Child Care Action Council Executive Director, Gary Burris. “The Imagination Library will provide critical early literacy resources to families through Mason and Thurston and is unique in its ability to reach socially and geographically isolated families who might otherwise lack access.”
Dolly Parton’s inspiration behind creating the Imagination Library in 1995 in her home state of Tennessee can be attributed to her father and his inability to read. Inspiring kids to love to read became her mission and to-date, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted over 188 million books to children in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. The impact of the Imagination Library has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics.
Children who are registered for the Imagination Library will receive a high quality, age-appropriate book in the mail each month addressed specifically to them. Each book is carefully selected to meet the different developmental needs of children as they progress from birth to age five. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books are inclusive and promote themes that are positive and inspirational. Families will also find two bi-lingual books (English and Spanish) per child per year.
Child Care Action Council is dedicated to helping children reach their full potential and ensuring school-age children are prepared to enter kindergarten with the skills to succeed. Becoming a partner with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library amplifies these efforts and provides families with an impactful early learning tool to engage with their children at home and inspire a love of reading and books.
Families can register their children for the Imagination Library beginning March 2nd by visiting ccacwa.org. Child Care Action Council will be partnering with the Timberland Regional Library to reach as many Mason and Thurston early learners possible, ensuring access to this valuable early literacy program. Families can also attend an upcoming Storytime at their local TRL branch and register in-person for the Imagination Library.