Submitted by United Way.

San Juan County families now have a great opportunity to give their children from birth up to five years old the gift of reading! United Way of San Juan County has partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, providing free books each month so kids can explore and learn about new worlds through literature. It’s an amazing chance for parents – at no cost – to cultivate lifelong readers right in their own homes.

Dolly Parton’s impressive legacy of inspiring young readers began in 1995 when she created the Imagination Library to honor her father’s struggles with illiteracy. To date, this remarkable program has gifted over 188 million books to children across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland! The success of Dolly’s mission is evident from numerous research studies which have found positive increases in early childhood literacy metrics tied directly to its impact.

“United Way of San Juan County is excited to partner with the Dollywood Foundation to bring the Imagination Library to our San Juan County Libraries on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island. We have a deep heartfelt commitment to the well-being of our young children and families in San Juan County and are honored to be able to bring free, high-quality books to our young children in our island community.

We are so happy to bring in the New Year with this wonderful program. We would like to thank our state legislators and the Imagination Library of Washington for supporting this wonderful effort. Happy reading to all the children!” said William Morrissey, President of United Way of San Juan County.

Children who are registered for the Imagination Library will receive a high-quality, age-appropriate book in the mail each month addressed specifically to them. Each book is carefully selected to meet the different developmental needs of children as they progress from birth to age five. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books are inclusive and promote themes that are positive and inspirational. Families will also find two bilingual books (English and Spanish) per child per year.

The first book in the series a child will receive is ‘The Little Engine That Could,” and upon graduating out of the Imagination Library program on their fifth birthday, children receive the book “Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.”

United Way of San Juan County is passionate about giving kids the tools they need to reach their potential. With the support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we can strengthen these efforts. This impactful program provides families with an early learning resource at home, spurring a curiosity in books that will last beyond kindergarten and into adulthood.

Families can register their children for the Imagination Library today by visiting https://www.imaginationlibrarywashington.org/check_availability. United Way of San Juan County has partnered with San Juan Island Library, Orcas Island Library, and Lopez Island Library to reach as many San Juan County early learners as possible, ensuring access to this valuable early literacy program.