Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register my child?
If you want to register your child for the program, please fill out the registration form and mail or email it to us. Please contact imaginationlibrary@lit-together.org if you need any assistance.
I don’t live in Buncombe County. Can I sign my child up to receive books?
Local affiliates, like Literacy Together, handle Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library registrations and serve specified areas. Click here and enter your zip code to find out if a local affiliate is serving your county/community.
I have twins. Will they receive the same book every month?
Unfortunately, yes. Instead of receiving two identical books monthly, families with twins will enroll both children as one. We can put both children’s names on the mailing label so that they will receive the gift together each month. This allows Literacy Together to enroll an additional child from the waiting list to receive the second book.
My older child already receives books. If I enroll my younger child, will they receive the same books my older child did?
The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Selection Committee rotates approximately 25% of titles for each age group each year. Families who enroll multiple children and therefore receive some “repeat” books often donate the duplicates back to Literacy Together to give to children on the waiting list. Other families donate copies to homeless shelters, school libraries, and other nonprofits. Please remember to peel the mailing label from the back of the books before donating to protect your privacy.
Why do my child’s books come at different times every month?
Why do my children receive their books on different days?
Penguin Random House prints Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books monthly, keeping program costs affordable. The different age groups’ books are mailed as they are ready, which varies from month to month. Therefore, your child(ren)’s books can arrive at any point in the month. Please get in touch with us if you have not received a book in 8 weeks.
We moved here and transferred our enrollment. Will my child receive the same books they received before we moved?
No. Each month, the book a child receives is determined based on their birthday. This ensures that children receive appropriate books for their age and developmental stage. However, it also means that one child should never receive the same book twice, even if they move!
How long does it take to receive my child’s first book once I have received the email that my child has been enrolled?
Receiving your child’s first book can take 6-8 weeks after being enrolled. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library processes the books about six weeks before mailing them because Penguin Books USA prints books specifically for this program every month. Here is a video that explains the process.
My child stopped receiving books. What happened?
If your child recently turned five, they graduated from the program. Their last book should have been Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!
If you have moved, please get in touch with us and give us your new address. If your new address is still in Buncombe County, we can update the system, and you should receive your next book at your new address in 6-8 weeks. If your new address is outside of Buncombe County, we will attempt to transfer your registration to an affiliate serving your new community.
Please get in touch with us if neither of these is true and your child has not received a book in over a month.