The path to lifelong learning starts in a child’s earliest years, when brains are growing, and possibilities are limitless.
The first few years of a child’s life are when the brain grows and develops the most, and a child’s experiences in these early years affect how their brain develops. A child's brain produces more than 1 million new neural connections every second. A newborn’s brain is about a quarter of the size of the average adult brain. Incredibly, it doubles in size in the first year and keeps growing to about 80 percent of adult size by age three and 90 percent — nearly full grown — by age five.
This “wiring” shapes infants and toddlers’ ability to learn to read and think critically. Because of that fact, as early as age three, a child’s vocabulary can predict third-grade reading achievement. What is the best way to ensure a child is armed with the knowledge they need to succeed? Reading aloud to that child and giving them access to books.
Through our partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we are working to send every child in Washington from birth to age five a new book each month. Research has shown that a child with 25 books in their home complete an average of two additional years of schooling compared to their peers without books in their home. (1)
When you read with a child, you’re not just turning pages—you’re building trust, sparking curiosity, and creating lifelong memories. Consistent shared reading helps children feel secure, connected, and better equipped to navigate the social world. Reading aloud each day offers far more than academic preparation—it provides emotional stability and deepens the parent-child bond. Children read to daily may hear up to 1.4 million more words before kindergarten, but perhaps the greater impact is emotional: they come to see books as symbols of warmth, care, and connection—fueling a lifelong journey of curiosity and growth.
Imagination Library of Washington ignites a love of reading in young children by mailing one high-quality, age-appropriate book each month to children from birth to age five. These books nurture emotional bonds with caregivers and support critical cognitive development—laying the groundwork for lasting educational success.
Research and surveys have been conducted by Imagination Library of Washington to measure the impact and success of the Imagination Library program in our state.
- Anuual Parent/Guardian Surveys - the goal of conducting this survey is to gather meaningful insights into program impact andoutcomes, helping to better understand how regular access to books is supporting earlyliteracy development, school readiness, and family engagement across Washington.
- Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Pilot Study (in partnership with Longview Public Schools) - this pilot study conducted in 2024 revealed that children who had participated in the Imagination Library prior to entering school outperformed their non-participant peers in seven of the eight learning objectives pertaining to reading in the Fall 2023 WaKIDS Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.
Key discoveries from the 2025 Parent/Guardian Survey include:
- 91.3% of parents/caregivers believe that participating in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is helping to prepare their child/children for kindergarten
- 75.8% of respondents describe the quality and diversity of the Imagination Library books as excellent
- 80.2% of respondents have seen an increased interest in books with their child/children
- 75.3% of caregivers indicated the frequency of reading at home has increased since receiving Imagination Library books
Click image to download full survey results. |
Click image to download full assessment. |
We’re building a statewide culture of reading—and we’re doing it together. With the help of local program partners, community organizations, and dedicated champions, over 120,000 Washington children now receive the gift of free books right at home. Together, we will ensure that all Washington early learners can have the gift of literacy to succeed in school and beyond, and are inspired to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More, as Dolly Parton often says.
The benefits of the Imagination Library go beyond children having more books. Early language development is critical to a child’s literacy. And participants receiving books through the Imagination Library have been able to see this development in real time.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Supportive Research - The Imagination Library began with Dolly Parton’s desire that every child, regardless of income, would have access to books. Since its founding, The Dollywood Foundation has conducted and encouraged research on the Imagination Library program in an effort to assess communities’ reactions to the program and its impact on children literacy.
The Dollywood Foundation Cumulative Impact Study - The Dollywood Foundation conducted a study showing the cumulative impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library on kindergarten readiness.
The Dollywood Foundation Research Database and Documents
Center on the Developing Child - Harvard University
A Family Literacy Program: Two-Generation Approach - Dolly Parton's Imagination Library takes a two-generational approach to literacy by engaging both children and their caregivers in meaningful reading experiences. By delivering high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to families each month, the program fosters a love of learning across generations—sparking joy in children and empowering parents to actively support their child’s early literacy journey.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - Early Literacy; “It is never too early to start reading to a child!” Watch the video as Dr. Dipesh Navsaria talks about why it is important read early to children.
Resources:
1. University of Nevada, Reno. "Books in home as important as parents' education in determining children's education level." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 May 2010.
2. Schweinhart, L.J., Montie, J., Xiang, Z., Barnett, W.S., Belfield, C.R., & Nores, M. (2005). Lifetime Effects: The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study Through age 40. Ypsilanti, MI: High/Scope Educational Research Foundation.
3. Neuman, S.B. & Dickinson, D.K. (Ed.) (2006). Handbook of Early Literacy Research, Volume 2. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
4. Berk, L. E. (Ed.). (2009). Child Development (8th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
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