Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has partnered with California to give away free books to any Californian child every month from the day they are born until they turn five starting next summer.
Imagination Library Partners With California
The foundation was founded in 1995 and has given away over 186 million to kids, mostly to poor households. Children have been able to build their own libraries as a result. Now, Parton and her foundation want to help children all over California.
“Today marks a significant day, the beginning of a magnificent statewide program which will put books in the hands of California children at a young age, opening the door to limitless possibility for their future,” said Sen. Shannon Grove, one of the co-authors the bill.
The bill was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and received bipartisan support. Who would say no to free books for children?
To Honor Her Father
In 2018, in a speech to the Library of Congress, Parton says she started the foundation to honor her father Robert Lee Parton Sr. who never learned how to read.
I had the idea to do something special for him,” Parton said. “You know, in the Bible where it talks about honoring your father and your mother. I don’t think that necessarily means just to obey them. I think it means to bring honor to their name.”
Any parent or guardian that lives in California can sign up their children here. The program is open to any of California 2.4 million kids, whose parents or legal guardians can sign them up here.
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