26/08/2026
An icon and a legend!
Following the sad news that country music icon Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, a reminder that her legacy lives on here in Wandsworth (including Balham), where every child up to age five can still receive a free book every month through her Imagination Library.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was founded in 1995 by the country music legend to inspire a lifelong love of reading in young children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Young readers can benefit from a completely free, age-appropriate book every month from birth until their fifth birthday. It is open to all children aged 0-5.
The project is supported by funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and delivered by Dolly Parton’s charity, The Dollywood Foundation.
Dolly said of The Imagination Library, “I have always known that if we encourage children to dream, we give them the chance to live those dreams. Having books at home is the perfect way to open a child’s mind to a world of imagination, and I am so proud that my Imagination Library has reached so many children over the years.
"Now children living in your community will receive the gift of reading. I hope that we’ll soon grow the programme to reach many more children and inspire a love of reading that will last a lifetime.”
More info, including how to register, via Wandsworth Council here:https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/imagination-library/
Goodbye, Dolly. You’ll be missed, but your legacy will continue to shine!
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