Like many people, I was saddened to hear the news of Dolly Parton’s death. As tributes poured in, I found myself discovering a part of her story that I knew very little about Dolly Parton’s ‘Imagination Library’. And. maybe I’m late to the party, but I hadn’t realised the scale of what she had created.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was inspired by Dolly’s late father who was unable to read or write, and she wanted children to have the opportunities that he never had. So, she started small, sending books out to children in Sevier County, Tennessee where she grew up. The library mails a free book a month to children from when they are born ‘til when they become five years old, no matter what the family’s income is. What began as a simple act of generosity has now reached millions of families around the world.
Finding this out, it struck me that this is often what happens when someone dies: we remember them for one thing, only to discover their wider impact on people’s lives. The more I read about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the more inspired I became. It wasn’t flashy or complicated. It was simply about helping children access books to improve their literacy and agency, and to discover the joy of reading. That’s something worth celebrating.
As children’s workers, we spend a lot of time thinking about how children can flourish. We want children and families to thrive, not just within our groups and activities, but in their everyday lives too. Dolly’s example reminded me that sometimes the simplest things can make an extraordinary difference. Reading matters. Books and stories spark imagination, build confidence, open up new worlds and develop empathy and curiosity through new discoveries. If we want children and families to thrive, encouraging a love of reading is one small, but, powerful way we can support that journey. As we approach the start of a new school year, it feels particularly relevant. Many children will soon be putting on a school uniform for the first time, with parents navigating new routines and emotions as they adjust to these milestones.
All this got me thinking about the opportunities sitting right in front of us: many of us already run toddler groups, stay-and-play sessions, family cafés and community projects. We spend time with children during some of the most formative years of their lives. What if these spaces also became places where children could discover a love of books?
It doesn’t need to involve a major new initiative or a big budget. It could be: a book-sharing shelf in your church foyer; a cosy reading corner in a toddler group; gifting a picture book to children starting school; or simply making families aware of opportunities that already exist. The Imagination Library is already operating in several London boroughs, including Camden, Wandsworth, Lambeth and Southwark, and continues to expand – find out more here.
A Challenge for This Term
As you prepare for the new term, I’d encourage you to take a fresh look at the groups and activities you already run and ask one simple question: How can we help more children fall in love with reading? The answer will look different in every setting. For some churches, it might be a book-sharing shelf, for others it could be a reading corner, a partnership with the local library, or a gift for children starting school. It may simply be making stories a bigger part of what you already do. Whatever form it takes, don’t underestimate the impact of small steps.
We may never know the full impact of Dolly’s simple idea, but in homes across the world, children have curled up with a book, and their joy or reading has been gently nurtured through this program. We can play our part too. Through our toddler groups, family ministries, stay-and-play sessions and community work, we have weekly opportunities to help children and families grow, flourish and thrive. So, as you plan for the months ahead, why not ask: What more can we do to help children discover the joy of reading?
What I love about Dolly Parton’s vision is its simplicity – she saw a need and decided to do something about it. Changing lives doesn’t always begin with a grand strategy. Sometimes it starts with a child receiving a book through the post, sometimes it’s a story shared at bedtime, sometimes it’s an adult taking the time to read with a child and helping them discover the joy of books.
A few books to start a child’s reading journey:
- Tiny Truths Little Lights Devotional – to help Children explore and discover all the exciting ways there are to explore God Love.
- Journey with Me for Kids– A daily devotional for an adventure with Jesus.
- Five- Minute Bible Stories – A collection of 20 Bible stories retold and designed to be read aloud in five minutes.