Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails free, age-appropriate, high-quality books each month to children under age five, without any other restrictions or eligibility criteria. These books are delivered directly to children’s homes, so rural and urban communities both can benefit from enrolling in the program.
As of July, 2021, a dozen states are offering Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library statewide and several more are interested in starting statewide programs. Utah should offer this program to all of its children under age five as well. As of July, 2021, there were four DPIL affiliates in Utah (the largest being the Early Childhood Alliance), mailing out 633 books to children each month. Our enrollment numbers continue to increase because this program is incredibly popular with our families.
Utah’s children’s opportunity to develop a love of reading early in life should not depend upon whether they happen to live in one of the few service areas currently served by the Imagination Library. Utah should invest in all of our children, at an affordable cost of $2.10 per book, so that our kids are better prepared for school and enjoy reading together with their parents and loved ones as they grow and develop.
Other states have found the resources to do this and Utah should follow their lead and invest in our children’s early development and literacy by starting a statewide program.
