Bright Start TN Clearinghouse

Strategy

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL)

What is it?

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children birth through age five, regardless of income. The goals of DPIL are to increase children’s access to books, increase parent-child reading frequency, and enhance kindergarten readiness. 

What is the evidence base?

Children with access to Imagination Library books improve their emergency literacy skills and are better prepared for kindergarten. DPIL also improves family literacy habits.

  • Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation_2007_Tennessee’s Imagination Library Improves School Preparedness
  • Dorman and Fair_2021_Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Impact Report 2021
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