Dolly Parton’s Book Program Brings Free Monthly Reads to South Florida Families

A nationwide network of municipalities has joined forces with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a nonprofit organization dedicated to distributing complimentary books to young children from infancy through age five. The initiative draws inspiration from the classic children’s tale “The Little Engine That Could,” channeling Parton’s vision to cultivate curiosity, inspire aspirations, and encourage academic achievement among the youngest readers. As of 2026, the organization ships books to children across the globe, including two participants residing in South Florida.

Lauren Dieppa witnesses the impact firsthand with her two children, Max and Ava, who have received one book monthly since birth through the program. “Every time we get a book in the mail that night they’re reading it,” Dieppa said. Parton established the initiative in 1995 to honor her late father, launching the effort in her native East Tennessee before scaling operations to multiple states and international territories.

The program operates through thousands of community partners nationwide who facilitate its expansion into their respective municipalities. Miami Lakes joined the effort in 2004 and continues to support the mission. According to Clarissell De Cardenas, communications and community affairs director for Miami Lakes, the process is straightforward: guardians register their child through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library website, and the municipality assumes all expenses for books and postage.

The Imagination Library curates age-appropriate selections and manages direct delivery to participating children’s residences. This collaborative model has generated measurable benefits while securing Parton’s enduring legacy as the “Book Lady,” ensuring her vision of literacy empowerment reaches future generations.