From One to One Million

Hey! Let me introduce myself.

I’m one of Dolly Parton’s favorite books; I’ve been around for more than 90 years. My friends call me The Little Engine That Could. I’ve always loved encouraging young ones to try their best, to not give up.

Since I’ve become the first book mailed out in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, I’ve been to some amazing places-the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. Quite a few copies of me have ended up in Onslow County!

My journey to a child’s home is a simple process. Once I’m printed, I get wrapped and labeled with where my new home will be. I jostle around a little while I’m out on the road (my delivery).

There really is nothing better than waiting in a mailbox for a pair of little hands to grab me up and squeal, “It’s here!”

From there, I become part of a home library for a child. A home library. Just the sound of that gives me krinkly pages (very similar to your “goose bumps”)!
I get to hear parents read to their little ones, and the children ask questions.

I giggle (softly, of course) while the parents make silly voices and their children laugh.

I inhale too when they take turns smelling “a good book.”
And there are those other times:

I’m there as parents and children count the dolls and toys on my pages.

I hear the tenderness in parents’ voices as they say, “I think I can! I think I can!”

I feel those little ones as they sigh that breath that signals the start of their sleep.
I’m part of all that!

Conversations and snuggles fill my pages each time I’m read.

I’m developing young minds, building vocabularies, igniting imaginations, and strengthening parent-child bonds. Most importantly, I’m growing a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.

In Onslow County, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has mailed more than ONE MILLION books just like me to homes throughout the community.

Each month a new book is added to our home libraries. Each one of us brings a smile, a few questions, and lots of “Read it again!”

Thank you for being part of Imagination Library.

One book at a time.

One child at a time.

Now…for the next million!

Click here to read more about this major milestone.