Illinois, Dolly Parton Partner To Give Free Books To Kids

ILLINOIS — More young children will have exposure to books after the State of Illinois partnered with country music legend Dolly Parton to introduce reading to young kids across the state, officials announced on Tuesday.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a $1.6 million partnership with Parton’s Imagination Library to mail high-quality books to children between birth and age 5 at no cost, regardless of a family’s income. The partnership is included in the state’s fiscal year 2024 budget and is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading among kids, according to a news release.

The partnership helps to “bring Dolly to every doorstep,” Pritzker said on Tuesday.

"As a longtime early childhood advocate, I'm incredibly excited for what's to come,” Pritzker said. “These are some of the most crucial years for learning of a person's lifetime, and this initiative will connect low-income families to resources their children will need for lifelong success."

The Dollywood Foundation, which supports the Imagination Library Program, is a nonprofit organization founded by Parton in 1988. The Imagination Library Program was launched in 1995, with books originally being distributed to children living in Sevier County, Tennessee, where Dolly grew up.

However, it became such a success that in 2000, it was replicated nationally and by 2003, one million books had been mailed to children all over the country, according to a news release. Last month, the Imagination Library announced it has sent more than 209 million books to children across the country.

"Every child deserves the opportunity to discover worlds beyond their imagination. Leaders who put education first make this possible. Thanks to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, children in every corner of Illinois can receive free books mailed directly to their home," Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said in a news release. "I applaud early childhood advocates like Dolly Parton, who are helping our children find joy in reading and creating future generations of avid readers."