A free book every month, delivered with love.
Washtenaw Promise is proud to be the local affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—a program that puts high-quality books into the hands of young children, completely free of charge. From birth to age five, each enrolled child receives a new, age-appropriate book in the mail every month, building a personal home library and nurturing a lifelong love of reading.
It’s simple, free, and joyful—here’s how the magic happens:
Any child from birth to age five living in our service area can be registered by a parent or caregiver.
From board books for babies to engaging stories for preschoolers, each book is thoughtfully selected by early childhood experts.
Each child gets a new book in the mail, addressed just to them—creating excitement and pride in ownership.
Washtenaw Promise raises the funds needed to support every child we enroll, covering both book costs and shipping.
Reading aloud to young children is one of the most powerful ways to support language development, early literacy, and strong bonds between caregivers and kids. Yet, for many families in under-resourced communities, access to books can be limited. By mailing books directly to children’s homes, the Imagination Library removes barriers and builds critical early literacy habits from the start.
Since launching our affiliate partnership, we’ve distributed thousands of books to young readers in Washtenaw County—and we’re just getting started. Every child deserves access to books and the joy they bring, and your support helps make that possible.
Hear from Dolly herself. In this short video, Dolly Parton shares the heart behind the Imagination Library and why she believes every child deserves the gift of books.
Let’s build a community of readers, one book at a time. Your support helps us bring the Imagination Library to more children across Washtenaw County. Whether you’d like to help fund the program, share it with local families, or learn more about how it works, we’d love to hear from you.
Empowering young children in underserved communities through literacy, confidence, and social-emotional growth — supported by volunteers, educator development, and strong community partnerships.
