​​Clermont kids receive Dolly’s gift of reading

For years, a spark of Dolly Parton’s magic has reached mailboxes across Clermont County.

As many communities face declining childhood literacy scores, 8,206 Clermont County children from birth to age five participate in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and receive a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book mailed to their homes every month.

And that’s just the children currently enrolled in the program.

In 2020, the Imagination Library began serving Clermont County families. 9,536 children have already “graduated” from the program when they turned five. The numbers tell an extraordinary story about the power of putting books into the hands of children from their very earliest years.

Dolly Parton.

The dream began with Dolly

Dolly Parton launched the Imagination Library in 1995 from her home county in East Tennessee. Her father could not read or write, inspiring her to develop the program. Her dream was to foster a love of reading among young children by making books available to every child, regardless of a family’s income or circumstances.

That dream has expanded far beyond Tennessee, bettering the lives of children across America, including those living in Clermont County.

Dolly’s legacy has been a source of hope and generosity for many families, even after her passing in August 2026. Her belief that every child deserves the chance to learn and discover through reading continues to inspire even the most underserved communities around the world.

Librarians from this program carefully select books suitable for a child’s age and developmental stage. Best of all, the books arrive addressed to the child, making that trip to the mailbox something special and engaging.

By the time a child turns five, they can build a home library of up to 60 books.

Improving childhood literacy through free resources.

More than a stack of pages

The impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library goes well beyond the physical ownership of books.

Every delivery is an opportunity for a parent, grandparent, sibling, or caregiver to sit down with a child and read together. Those moments help build early literacy skills and strengthen family bonds long before a child walks into a kindergarten classroom.

And because the Imagination Library is available to children regardless of family income, it helps ensure that more of Clermont County’s youngest learners have an equitable opportunity to become literate members of their community.

Organizations like United Way of Greater Cincinnati and Clermont County Public Library partner to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Clermont County families, with support from generous community partners and donors who help cover the local cost of providing and mailing the books.

That community support matters even more at this scale: more than 8,000 local children eagerly await their next book each month.

Reading resources for kids.

One book and one child at a time

Dolly’s vision comes alive more each year, but the story is far from finished.

As children continue to grow up in Clermont County — a region that will experience significant growth and change over the coming decade — access to literacy resources becomes increasingly important for local families. The Imagination Library can support young children's educational needs while encouraging them to explore their interests and creativity.

Communities like Clermont County will continue to steward Dolly’s vision into the distant future. Her belief in childhood empowerment through reading will continue to inspire the next generation of learners and leaders; one book and one child at a time.

Read more Good News from residents and organizations in Clermont County.