Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Launches in San Francisco

“We are eagerly working to make that happen and have Dolly here in California,” she said.

California is also the first state in the Imagination Library’s network to offer books in English and Spanish. Michael Lambert, San Francisco’s Librarian, said he wants to add books in Chinese, Tagalog and other languages to reflect the city’s diverse population.

A panel of early childhood literacy experts chooses books that correspond with the child’s age. Kids under one receive sturdy board books with nursery rhymes, while those about to turn 2 might get books that focus on colors, letters and numbers.

The first book that all children will receive in the mail, addressed to them, is The Little Engine That Could.

“It’s a classic,” Anderson said, “and it really sets the tone for the program, which is exploring a whole new world of reading and believing in that journey, ‘I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.’”

When kids are about to turn 5, the last book sent to them will be Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! to mark the next chapter of their learning journey.

To begin receiving free books, families can enroll at their local public library branch or online.