DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) — Children in Alabama’s foster care system will now receive a free book each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, thanks to a new partnership with state agencies.
Gov. Kay Ivey announced the initiative this week, saying it will help give foster children a stronger start in life. “Every child in Alabama deserves a strong start, and that foundation begins with reading,” Ivey said in a statement. “By putting a new book in the hands of our youngest Alabamians each month, we are planting the seeds for a lifetime of learning and success.”
The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), working with the Department of Early Childhood Education, will automatically enroll all foster children ages 0-5 into the program. Enrollment will be free for foster parents, who will receive a letter in the mail with program details. Each child will receive a high-quality, age-appropriate book monthly until their fifth birthday.
DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner said the program offers stability for children in foster care. “In the life of a foster child, circumstances are ever-changing, and these monthly books will be something these children will look forward to every month,” Buckner said. “Gifting these books will be one way we work to ensure success in their life later down the road.”
Alabama joined the Imagination Library in 2023, providing books for children from birth to age 5 when parents or guardians sign them up. The new foster care partnership removes that step, ensuring all eligible children are included.
Founded in 1995, the Imagination Library began in Parton’s hometown of Sevier County, Tenn., and has since grown internationally. Today, the program serves children across the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Ireland. According to program officials, about one in seven children in the U.S. under age 5 now receives a book each month through the nonprofit.
