Harris County Public Library (HCPL) has exciting news for families with young children. You can now sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at any HCPL branch.
Children from birth to age five can receive a free, high-quality book in the mail every month. It’s easy to join, and the program is completely free for all families.
About Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a free book gifting program for children from birth to their 5th birthday. It began 30 years ago in Dolly Parton’s hometown in Tennessee and now serves children around the world.
Since it started, the Imagination Library has given out more than 300 million books to families in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. The goal is simple: help children build a love of reading from the very beginning.
Imagination Library Book Lists, opens a new window
Why Early Reading Matters
- A baby’s brain grows very fast. In the first three years, it makes over one million new connections every second.
- Reading with babies and toddlers helps them learn language.
- Having books at home supports a child’s learning, confidence, and emotional growth.
- Reading together builds a strong bond between children and their caregivers.
- A child enrolled at birth can receive up to 60 free books by age five.
A Parent's Experience
“The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is such an amazing program ! I love how it inspires a lifelong love of reading in young children. Thank you HCPL for signing up Noah!”
-- Emily A.
How to Sign Up
- Visit any HCPL branch to register your child.
- Children from birth to age 3 can start the program.
- All eligible children in a family may join.
- Books are mailed to your home every month at no cost.
- Your first book will arrive in 2–3 months, then one book each month until age five.
About the Books
- All books are age-appropriate and selected by experts on early learning.
- Titles are published by Penguin Random House.
- Books include stories that show many kinds of families, cultures, and experiences.
- Each year, every age group receives two bilingual books.
About the Partnership
The Imagination Library of Greater Houston, a Local Program Partner of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, has named Harris County Public Library as its partner library in the Greater Houston area. This program is funded in part by a grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Books are provided at no cost to HCPL or participating families.