How 'Book Queen' Dolly Parton inspired millions of children with gift of reading

August 29, 2026

Dolly Parton, who passed away at age 80, created the Imagination Library program in 1995 to honor her father who never learned to read due to his impoverished Appalachian upbringing. The initiative provides one free book monthly to children from birth to five years old, initially starting in her Tennessee hometown before expanding internationally to Canada, the UK, Australia, and Ireland. By 2025, the program had distributed over 300 million books through partnerships with local organizations, sending a book every 78 seconds.

Who is affected

Children from birth to age five receiving free books
Dolly Parton's father, who inspired the program
Families in Tennessee, across the United States, Canada, UK, Australia, and Ireland
London mother Harriet Anscombe and her four-year-old daughter
Colorado mother Ciara Fernandez Faber and her son (now around 8 years old)
Helen Cashell's two children in Dublin, Ireland (aged seven and five)
Author Selina Brown whose book was selected for distribution
Paige Stewart's twin girls in Sydney, Australia (now four years old) who had speech delays
Authors and publishers whose books are distributed through the program

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are stated in the article. The article describes the program's history and past impacts, written after Dolly Parton's death.

Why it matters

The program addresses educational inequality by ensuring all families, regardless of financial circumstances, can access quality children's books without having to choose between books and basic necessities like gas, electricity, or food. It establishes early reading routines from infancy that might otherwise not begin until children are older. The carefully curated book selections help children develop not just literacy skills but also social and emotional intelligence by addressing topics like different family structures, bravery, courage, bullying, and diverse identities. The program has demonstrated measurable impact on child development, including helping children with speech delays achieve significant breakthroughs.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC