MO becomes 14th state to offer Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to ...

As of Wednesday, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program is available to every child — age 5 and under — living in Missouri.

Children enrolled by a parent will receive an age-appropriate book delivered to their home by mail each month at no cost to the family.

"It's so exciting," said Tammy Flowers, assistant director of early childhood education in Springfield. "It's such a good resource to get books in the hands of kids."

The beloved American singer-songwriter created the program in 1995 to foster a love of reading for children in her home county in East Tennessee. In 2004, it was made available to every child in Tennessee.

"When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true. I know there are children in your community with their own dreams. They dream of becoming a doctor or an inventor or a minister. Who knows, maybe there is a little girl whose dream is to be a writer and singer," Parton said in a statement about the program.

"The seeds of these dreams are often found in books and the seeds you help plant in your community can grow across the world."

The program is now international, serving children in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, with 2.6 million registered and more than 221 million books given away.

Missouri is only the 14th state to serve children in all of its ZIP codes.

The expansion was made possible by legislation and $11 million was allocated as part of the state's fiscal year 2024 budget.

Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven said early exposure to reading and high quality books sets students up for success.

“Missouri is the 14th state to commit to a statewide program, but no other state has been fully funded, with all children under age five eligible on the first day of the statewide program," she said, in a release. "This is certainly a day to celebrate, and like, Dolly, we thank Governor Parson and the General Assembly for their support.”

Pam Thomas, assistant commissioner with the state's Office of Childhood, said families can sign up "regardless of income and ... where you live in Missouri."

She described the availability of the books as a "game-changer."

"We know that when parents are engaged in their child's development and that early learning ... they'll continue to be engaged with their child's education."

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Thomas said parents are their child's first teacher. Over time, as the books arrive, it creates excitement for reading, promotes early literacy skills, and improves school readiness.

"It sets that child on a positive trajectory for success in school or later on in life," she said.

She said parents with children under age 5 are encouraged to register at ImaginationLibrary.com. The books are selected by a panel of early childhood experts.

The first book a child receives when they start the program, is "The Little Engine That Could." The month the child turns age 5, they receive "Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!"

Funds to manufacture the books, published by Penguin Random House, are raised for Imagination Library by the Dollywood Foundation.

The cost to distribute the books is $26 a year per child — which is covered by the state funding in Missouri.

“We are proud to partner with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to bring quality educational resources to more Missouri children and help inspire a passion for reading and learning,” said Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson, in a release. “The education of Missouri children is near and dear to us, and we know learning starts early. Even simple access to quality books at a young age can make a transformational difference in the life of a child as they grow older and seek to achieve their own American Dream."

Missouri school districts are part of the partnerships but they not incur any costs. They are expected to help spread the word.

Flowers, of SPS, said access to books is the "single most important factor for success" in school. She said it builds a child's vocabulary, literacy skills and confidence.

"It makes reading exciting," she said.

Superintendent Grenita Lathan has partnered with Scholastic during the past two years to send bags of books home with students in the early grades and encourage reading over the summer.

While separate from Imagination Library, the complimentary effort is expected to continue. "They are able to build those libraries at home," said Stephen Hall, chief communications officer for SPS.

Parton has made a commitment to visit each state the makes Imagination Library available to all children under age 5.

"Missouri is on her list of places to visit and personally thank all of those that are supporting the program," Thomas said. "We don't have a date or a time. We haven't scheduled that yet."

Communities in Missouri have long offered Imagination Library in select locations. As the statewide program rolls out, the existing programs will be absorbed.

Currently, the state has 50 small, affiliate chapters serving 17,000 students. Funding to operate those programs is often raised by local nonprofits.

A decade ago, author David Harrison worked with the Springfield-Greene County Library District, United Way of the Ozarks and others to raise funds to offer Imagination Library for children in four Greene County ZIP codes — 65802, 65803, 65806 and 65807 — but funding only lasted for a handful of years.

Harrison, recently named Missouri's Poet Laureate, said offering the program across Missouri "is a dream come true and something I used to say we needed if the Imagination Library was every going to have a lasting impact."

"We used to get such wonderful feedback from parents and children about those books that came every month. Kids loved it that they received something addressed to them," he said Tuesday. "We should all give thanks for Dolly Parton and her magnificent dream."

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.