Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Welcome Guide

The Literacy Cooperative is proud to serve as the local program partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Cuyahoga County. Our mission is to improve literacy across generations by helping children, families, and adults access the tools they need to learn and thrive.

Enrolling your child is an exciting step toward building a love of reading from the very beginning. Through this free book gifting initiative, children receive high quality, age appropriate books mailed directly to their home each month from birth until age five.

We hope your child falls in love with books, reading and learning as they cozy up with you, and that this blog serves as a helpful guide for you throughout that journey.

Every child begins with the same welcome book, The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.

After that, children receive books selected for their age and stage of development each month until their fifth birthday.

Books are assigned based on your child’s year of birth. For example:

  • Babies may receive sturdy board books with simple text focused on bonding and early development
  • Older preschoolers may receive picture books with more advanced stories and concepts

A child enrolled from birth through age five can build a home library of up to 60 books.

All titles are selected by early childhood experts. Learn more at about the book selection here.

Imagination Library also has a collection of free downloadable children’s audio books and many other titles available in braille from The American Printing House. These are offered free-of-charge to eligible families and may be purchased at a low cost by all others. Learn more here.

There is also an option to receive bilingual English/ Spanish Imagination Library books. Learn about how to update your child’s book language preference here.

Books are shipped monthly from Tennessee to over 3 million children.

Because book orders are placed in advance, it may take 6 to 12 weeks for your child’s first book to arrive.

Example:

If your child is enrolled in March, the first book will likely arrive in May.

After that, books will ship every month.

Books often arrive during the third week of the month, but they may come earlier or later depending on holidays or postal delivery schedules.

To help books arrive successfully, log in to your account here.

Use the email address you used during enrollment. Please confirm:

  • Mailing address
  • Apartment number if applicable
  • Contact information

Books are mailed through USPS bulk mail and cannot be forwarded, so keeping your information current is important.

If your family moves, please update your address with both The Literacy Cooperative and USPS as soon as possible.

You can:

If you move to another community with Imagination Library access, your enrollment may be transferred.

Books are mailed through USPS bulk mail and cannot be forwarded, so keeping your information current is important.

If two months pass without receiving a book, please:

Your username is usually the email address used during enrollment.

If you forgot your password, use the Forgot Password option.

If no email address is attached to your account, contact us at contactus@literacycooperative.org or 216-776-6180.

Reading often with children helps build language, strengthen relationships, and prepare children for school. Check out these videos from Cincinnati Children’s:

  • Sharing Books, Building Brains
    • Learn how a baby’s brain develops and the brain areas involved in its reading network, and most importantly, what you can do to help your child become a successful, lifelong reader.
  • SHARE-ing Books with Babies (SHARE/STEP Method)
    • Explore the SHARE/STEP approach developed by pediatricians and other experts that suggests ways to make reading with your baby more fun and stimulating.

Try Dialogic Reading

Dialogic reading turns storytime into a conversation by asking questions, talking about pictures, and encouraging your child to participate.

Simple Tips for Promoting Your Child’s Literacy Development

Explore simple ways to build literacy at home, including reading close together, filling your home with books, and taking nature walks.

Dolly wants every eligible child in your household enrolled and so do we!

Each child receives books selected specifically for their age and development.

Children under age 5 are eligible and receive their final book during the month of their fifth birthday.

The program is available across Ohio. If you live outside Cuyahoga County, visit here to check availability.

Registering your newborn is easier than ever.

Through Ohio’s birth certificate paperwork process, families can now choose to enroll newborns in Imagination Library after birth in the hospital. Just say “Yes” when asked if you want your baby to receive free books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

By enrolling early, children can receive the full collection of books available through the program. Learn more here.

You must enroll after the baby is born, not before.

When your child turns five, they graduate from Imagination Library, but the learning does not stop there.

The Literacy Cooperative offers a Graduation Guide with:

  • Free literacy resources for growing readers
  • Library and community programs
  • Educational apps and tools
  • Kindergarten readiness supports
  • Tips for reading at home

Imagination Library is a partnership between Dolly Parton, The Dollywood Foundation, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio and local communities.

While the Foundation manages book selection, administration, and monthly mailings, local program partners like The Literacy Cooperative raise the funds to cover the cost of books and postage for children in Cuyahoga County.

That means community support helps more local children receive books each month.

Questions? We’re Here to Help.