Every child benefits from being read to, and one great way to foster a love of reading in children is through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
This program provides children with a FREE age-appropriate book, every month, sent directly to your home.
Looking for stuff for your kids to do? Check out Triangle on the Cheap’s big list of upcoming free and cheap kid-friendly events in the Triangle!
As of November, 2024, over 254 million free books have been distributed through this program to over 3.1 million children.
Children who haven’t yet turned five years old are eligible, starting at birth.
You can register your child any time, as long as they are in the appropriate age bracket.
Depending on when you register, it can take up to 8-12 weeks to receive your first book, but after that they come regularly each month.
Not every zip code is eligible, so you’ll need to plug in your zip code to check. Check your availability here, and then, if your zip code is eligible, you can register your child.
The reason it’s not available for every zip code is that a local affiliate has to sign up. For example, in Wake County the local affiliate is Wake County SmartStart. The Durham County’s affiliate is Durham’s Partnership for Children. In Orange County, the affiliate is Orange County Partnership for Young Children.
If your zip code is not covered, it’s because no nonprofit in your area has signed up to the program.
The local affiliate’s role:
- Enrolls local children ages 0-5 years old
- Pays a small amount (currently $2.20) per child per month, toward the wholesale books and mailing costs
- Promotes the program locally to drive enrollment and to gain funding
Dolly Parton’s imagination Library’s role:
- Covers all overhead and admin expenses
- Provides Book Order System database and support
- Coordinates Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee
- Coordinates monthly book order and fulfillment
- Handles the wholesale purchasing of books
Learn more about how it works.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
More Kids’ Events in the Triangle
Please check out our big list of free and cheap kids’ events in the Triangle or look at a quick list here:
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