Washington State is experiencing tremendous program growth with the addition of many new Imagination Library affiliates activating coverage in our largest counties. Our newest addition to the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate family is Carbonado School District, located in Pierce County. Families living in the 98323/Carbonado zip code will now have the opportunity to register their children to receive a free book in the mail each month up until their fifth birthday. Pierce County, along with King, Snohomish, Skagit, Grant, and Adams counties currently have partial program coverage, while Washington’s 33 other counties have full program coverage.

Carbonado School District Principal/Superintendent Jessie Sprouse states, “Carbonado School District is beyond excited in being an affiliate to the Imagination Library. We look forward to connecting every child in our community to new books and families getting to look forward to them arriving right at their doors each month! For our children to have multiple books in their own hands before they get to school is simply a positive impact on their future success.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails high quality, age-appropriate books each month to children from birth up to five years old, at no cost to the family. This early literacy program is proven to achieve equitable access to books, increase school readiness, foster a love of reading and books, and improve family engagement. Dolly’s inspiration behind creating the Imagination Library in 1995 in her home state of Tennessee can be attributed to her father and his inability to read. Inspiring kids to love to read became her mission and to-date, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted over 201 million books to children in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland.

“As we march through Spring, new program access is blossoming around the state. Congratulations to Carbonado School District, new affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, for making this powerful investment into your early learners, helping them to prepare for kindergarten and beyond. A big seed has been planted for a mighty bloom,” stated Imagination Library of Washington Executive Director, Brooke Fisher-Clark.

To register an eligible child for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, visit www.imaginationlibrarywashington.org. Currently, over 51,000 Washington children between birth and five years old are experiencing the magic of a free book each month provided by 39 affiliates throughout the state. Seven additional program affiliates will be activating coverage in the coming weeks, increasing access to this valuable early literacy program.