Free books for children through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Photo: Depositphotos Every child benefits from being read to, and one great way to foster a love of reading in children is through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This program provides children with a FREE age-appropriate book, every month, sent directly to your home. Since the program started, over 304 million free books have been distributed through this program to millions of children. 1 in 6 children under age 5 in the United States receives books from Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Find all the best (and cheapest) kids’ activities on our list of upcoming kids’ events in Charlotte! Children who haven’t yet turned five years old are eligible, starting at birth. You can register your child any time, as long as they are in the appropriate age bracket. Not every zip code in the country is eligible, so you’ll need to plug in your zip code to check. Check your availability here, and then, if your zip code is eligible, you can register your child. 42 counties in North Carolina had to pause registration in 2025 due to lack of funding, but with the passage of the state budget in 2026, ALL counties in North Carolina are now accepting new registrations. The local affiliate’s role: Enrolls local children ages 0-5 years old Pays a small amount per child per month (currently $2.60), toward the wholesale books and mailing costs Promotes the program locally to drive enrollment and to gain funding Dolly Parton’s imagination Library’s role: Covers all overhead and admin expenses Provides Book Order System database and support Coordinates Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee Coordinates monthly book order and fulfillment Handles the wholesale purchasing of books Learn more about how it works. Double-Check Before You Head Out! We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate. However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It’s also possible that we can make a mistake. Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go. New to Charlotte on the Cheap? You might also be interested in: Signing up for Charlotte on the Cheap’s daily email Big list of indoor play areas Outdoor movies Upcoming free and cheap events for kids Free and cheap things to do this week Free museum days in the Charlotte area Subscribe More Events for Kids Check out our huge list of upcoming events for kids in the Charlotte area, or look at a few of them here: The post Free books for children through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library appeared first on Charlotte On The Cheap.