Beginning today, all families with children between the ages of birth up to age five living in Mason and Thurston counties can now register their kids to receive a free book in the mail each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This additional program expansion by new affiliate, Child Care Action Council, provides nearly 20,000 more children the opportunity to build a rich home library of books prior to entering kindergarten.

“Since its inception, Child Care Action Council has worked to identify early learning needs in the community and to address those needs by implementing impactful, equitable programming,” shared Child Care Action Council Executive Director, Gary Burris. “The Imagination Library will provide critical early literacy resources to families through Mason and Thurston and is unique in its ability to reach socially and geographically isolated families who might otherwise lack access.”

Child Care Action Council is dedicated to helping children reach their full potential and ensuring school-age children are prepared to enter kindergarten with the skills to succeed. Becoming a partner with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library amplifies these efforts and provides families with an impactful early learning tool to engage with their children at home and inspire a love of reading and books.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library was created by Dolly Parton in 1995 in honor of her father, whose inability to read and write was Dolly’s inspiration behind creating the Imagination Library. Inspiring kids to love to read became her mission and to-date, the Imagination Library has gifted over 199 million books to children in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. The impact of the Imagination Library has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics.

“We are thrilled to welcome new affiliate hero, Child Care Action Council to the Imagination Library of Washington family. We are so grateful for their passion and dedication to serving Thurston and Mason County children in this impactful, uplifting way,” stated Imagination Library of Washington Executive Director, Brooke Fisher-Clark.

Families with eligible children in Mason and Thurston Counties can now register their children for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library by visiting www.ccacwa.org. Child Care Action Council will be partnering with the Timberland Regional Library to reach as many Mason and Thurston early learners possible, ensuring access to this valuable early literacy program. Families can also attend an upcoming Storytime at their local TRL branch and register in-person for the Imagination Library.

In Washington, over 49,000 children are currently enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and 55% of all eligible children across the state have access to register for free monthly books. The Imagination Library of Washington is rapidly continuing its expansion efforts, with just six partially covered counties remaining to complete statewide coverage. In partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), a 50% funding match is provided to all Washington affiliates to support monthly enrollment and book costs. This match has been integral in uplifting new affiliates and covering new state territory, as well as helping affiliate stability and enrollment growth.