Unlock a World of Imagination for Your Child

Imagine a world where every child, regardless of income, receives the gift of reading. With Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, that world is a reality for children under five in our community.

This incredible program sends a FREE, high quality, age appropriate book directly to your child's home every month. Each book is addressed to them, creating a special moment of discovery and fostering a lifelong love of reading.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, in partnership with The Dollywood Foundation and United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, aims to inspire children and families to "Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More." Dolly provides the books, and we ensure they reach your doorstep!

Why is early reading so important? 

It's more than just fun; it's fundamental. Early exposure to books develops critical cognitive and language skills, sparks creativity, and strengthens the bond between children and caregivers. Research consistently shows that having books in the home is one of the most effective ways to encourage early literacy and academic success. By building strong foundations, we're helping to create a brighter, more equitable future where all children can thrive.


Ready to open a world of possibilities for a child?

 

Together, with Dolly Parton's Imagination Libary, we're making it easy to bring the joy of reading to your home! Follow these simple steps to register your child:

Step 1: Check Eligibility

  • Your child must be under five years of age.
  • Your child must reside within our current service area:
    • Amenia
    • Circleville
    • Crawford
    • Millerton
    • Montgomery
    • Pine Bush
    • Wassaic

Step 2: Gather Required Information

You'll need the follow information to complete the registration:

  • Your child's full name
  • Your child's date of birth
  • Your full name
  • Your mailing address
  • Your email address
  • Your phone number

Step 3: Register

You have a few convenient ways to register:

  1. Visit the official Dolly Parton's Imagination Library website: https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/
  2. Enter your zip code
  3. If the program is available in your area and click "Continue"
  4. Follow the prompts to fill out the online registration form with the information gathered in Step 2.
  5. Submit your application.

Step 4: Confirm Your Registration

After submitting your registration, you should receive a confirmation email from Dolly Parton's Imagination Lilbrary. If you don't receive a confirmation please reach out to Samantha Lowe-Durling at slowe@uwdor.org.  

Step 5: Await Your Child's First Book!

Once your registration is processed, it typically takes 6-8 weeks for the first book to arrive at your home. Books will then be mailed monthly, addressed directly to your child, untiil they turn five years old or move out of the service area.

Don't wait! Give your child the gift of reading and watch their imagination soar!

Invest in a Child's Future: Sponsor a Bookworm!

Every month, the magic of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library delivers a new, age-appropriate book directly to a child's home in Dutchess and Orange Counties. This isn't just about books; it's about igniting curiosity, fostering a love of learning, and laying the foundation for a brighter future for our community's youngest residents.

But we can't do it alone. While Dolly Parton's Imagination Library provides the books, the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region proudly covers the vital cost of shipping each and every one to a child's doorstep. This means every dollar you contribute directly supports getting books into the hands and hearts of local children.

Why Your Sponsorship Matters:

  • Boosts Early Literacy: Research overwhelmingly shows that access to books at home is a critical factor in a child's early literacy development and academic success. You're helping build stronger readers from day one.
  • Fosters a Love of Learning: A new book each month sparks excitement, encourages shared reading experiences with families, and instills a lifelong passion for knowledge.
  • Strengthens Families: Shared reading time builds bonds, creates lasting memories, and provides a powerful tool for parent-child interaction.
  • Promotes Equity: The Imagination Library is a FREE program for all children under five, regardless of family income. Your support ensures that every child has equal access to this transformative opportunity.
  • Builds a Brighter Community: By investing in our youngest learners, you're directly contributing to a more literate, creative, and thriving community for everyone.

How Can You Make a Difference:

Your contribution, no matter the size, helps us expand this program and deliver smiles and stories to more children across Dutchess and Orange Counties.

  • Sponsor a Child for a Year: For just $30, you can provide a full year (12 books!) of imagination and learning for one child. Imagine the impact of a new book arriving every month, addressed directly to them!
  • Become a Program Champion: Larger donations allow us to expand the program's reach, register more children, and ensure its long-term sustainability. Consider a gift of $150 to support five children for a year, or $300 to support ten children!
  • Make a Monthly Pledge: Even a small recurring monthly donation can add up to a significant impact over time, providing consistent support for the program.

Join us in bringing the joy of reading to every child in our community. Your sponsorship is an investment in literacy, in family and in the future of the Dutchess-Orange Region.


Ready to Ignite a Love for Reading?

If your business is interested in a larger partnership, please contact us to discuss tailored opportunities.

Susan Marchewka

Senior Events Manager
smarchewka@uwdor.org
845-471-1900, ext. 3126

Michelle Nepton

Senior Donor Development Director
mnepton@uwdor.org 
845-471-1900, ext. 3115

Have questions or prefer to donate by phone?

Elizabeth Manning

Vice President of Resource Development
emanning@uwdor.org 
845-471-1900, ext. 3116

Thank you for helping us open a world of possibilities, one book at a time!


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a program that mails a high-quality, age-appropriate book to registered children every month from birth until their fifth birthday, completely free of charge to their families. The goal is to inspire a love of reading and prepare children for school.

2025 Blue Ribbon Selections

The first book a child receives is The Little Engine that Could. The month a child turns 5 they will receive Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!

Click your child's birth year below to see what they will receive.

Cinderella – with Dogs!

Rabbit's Snow Dance

The Tree in Me (Bilingual option available)

Joy Takes Root

First Day Critter Jitters (Bilingual option available)

You Are a Honey Bee!

Help Wanted: One Rooster

Wild Horses (Bilingual option available)

Exactly as Planned

Steppin' Out

Grilled Cheese? Yes, Please!

Something Wild

The Power of Yeti

How to Get Your Octopus to School

Full Moon Pups

How to Say Hello to a Worm

A Book for Bear

Danbi's Favorite Day

The Rabbit Listened

When You Love a Book

The Outside

Being Home

Enola's Best Friend

There's a Monster in Your Book

A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle

Coat of Many Colors (Bilingual option available)

Corduroy (Bilingual option available)

How We Say I Love You

A Little Emotional

This is the Tree We Planted

Nubby

Raindrops to Rainbows

Gift & Box

Roar-Choo!

Little Owl's Love

Jonny Lambert's Bear and Bird Explore the Seashore

Gaga Mistake Day

A Little Like Magic

What's New, Daniel?

Somewhere Right Now

Rocket Ship, Solo Trip

 

The Animal Song

Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?

Squeak!

Green Tractor (Bilingual option available)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Nature Walk

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Breakfast

Birding for Babies: Backyard Birds

Dandelion Magic

Ice Cream Face

K is for Kindness

Solitary Animals (Bilingual option available)

The Big Slide

Llama Llama mets the Babysitter

Buffalo Fluffalo

Where is Your Nose?

Eric Carle's Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Other Nursery Rhymes

Home Builders

The Very Hungry Caterpillar's First Summer

My First Bilingual Farm (Bilingual option available)

Richard Scarry's 100 First Words (Bilingual option available)

Tad and Dad

Llama Llama Feelings

"Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," Said the Sloth

My Feet Go

Bedtime, Here I Come!

Little Poems for Tiny Ears

Play with Me

Llama Llama Red Pajama

Good Night Gorilla

Llama Llama Hide & Seek

Look at the Animals

Can You Guess? Animal Sounds with The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Pudgy Pat a Cake

Pudgy Book of Mother Goose

Baby Sounds (Bilingual option available)

Baby! Talk!

Sleep Tight, Polar Bear (Bilingual option available)

Who Says Quack? (Bilingual option available)

Rainbow Colors Peekaboo!

Roald Dahl Colors

Any child residing in Amenia or Pine Bush, is eligible to register if they are under five years of age. There are no income requirements – it's open to all families in our service area!

Nothing! The books are a gift from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and the United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region covers the cost of shipping each book to your child's home.

After successful registration, it typically takes 6 to 9 weeks for your child's first book to arrive. After that, books will be mailed monthly.

Books are mailed monthly. If you have not received a book for your child in 8 weeks or more, please contact United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region. It's also crucial to ensure your mailing address is always up-to-date.

It's very important to update your address immediately if you move, even if it's within Dutchess or Orange County. Books cannot be forwarded by the Post Office. You can typically update your address through your parent account on the Imagination Library website, or by contacting United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region.

Your child will continue to receive books until their fifth birthday. Their final book will be a special one, often "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!"

Yes! Each eligible child in your household can be registered and will receive their own books. Please note that twins will receive the same book each month, but the book selection committee does rotate titles annually to provide variety for families with multiple children enrolled at different times.

Books are selected based on the child's age, so all children born in the same year will receive the same books for that age group. The Imagination Library Book Selection Committee rotates approximately 25% of the titles for each age group annually to keep the program fresh.

Yes, many families with multiple children or those who receive duplicates choose to donate them. Please remember to peel off the mailing label to protect your privacy before donating back to United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region so we can redistribute to another child who is not eligible for the program.

Dolly Parton and The Dollywood Foundation generously provide the books and handle much of the administrative costs. Local partners, like United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region, are responsible for securing the funds to cover the shipping costs of the books to children in our community.

You can find information on how to start a program in a new area on the official Dolly Parton's Imagination Library website: https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/start-a-program/ 

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