A young boy reaches for the mailbox door, excitedly pulling it open. His eyes widen as he spots a book inside. “Mommy, look! A new book! It has whales on it!” he exclaims, waving it in the air as he races back into the house to show his family.
Scenes like this are made possible by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, locally led by the Broomfield Rotary. The program delivers one free, age-appropriate book to children from birth to age five each month. If a child is registered at birth, they will have their own library of 60 books by the time they turn five.
Broomfield Rotary leader Dennis Kennedy and his wife Linda are deeply committed to education and early literacy. As former educators, they have a deep passion for this program. “Over 80 percent of brain development happens before age five, Dennis explained. “If we don’t engage kids during that window, it can affect their future learning. This program helps children.”
Reading is a powerful activity that parents or caregivers can do with children. Hearing a parent’s voice, learning how to hold a book and turn pages, and exploring the pictures can spark a lifelong love of reading while strengthening family bonds. These early experiences help build language skills, confidence and school readiness.
“Reading with young children is an investment in our community’s future,” Linda shared. “We’re helping develop high school graduates and good citizens, one book at a time.”
A common misconception is that the program is funded entirely by the Dolly Parton Foundation or intended only for lower-income families. In reality, the books are free for every child, regardless of income. In Broomfield, the program is funded through a partnership between the State of Colorado and the Broomfield Rotary, while the Dolly Parton Foundation selects and mails the books each month.
One exciting aspect of the program is that all books are now available in a bilingual English-Spanish option. In addition, each book includes simple reading tips on the inside cover, offering parents easy ways to engage with their child during story time.
Enrolling is as simple as registering online at imaginationlibrary.com from birth.
The program’s impact is deeply personal. Dennis recalls how a little girl began crying when she learned that she had “aged out” of the program. She was reluctant to say goodbye to something that had become part of their family routine. “That reaction tells us everything,” he says.