Imagination Library of Illinois

06/08/2026

Summer is a great time to sign up for free books! Check for program availability here: https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/? =US

06/04/2026

📚15% of eligible children in Illinois are receiving the gift of books!

06/01/2026

Celebrate the power of family and fearless trailblazers with this stunning lyrical picture book! Written by the talented Traci Sorell and beautifully illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre, this story honors the bonds of a Cherokee family and the courageous women pilots who made history.

05/26/2026

05/18/2026

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is proud to partner with the American Printing House for the Blind!

It is so wonderful that Emersyn of Logan County, Illinois, has qualified to receive braille books from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library! Here is her story:

Emersyn was born in June of 2024. After two days she came home to her older brother Bentley. Five days later their lives changed forever. Emersyn was originally admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at St Johns in Springfield IL. She was later transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Emersyn’s first hospital admission was over a month long. During this time, she saw specialists daily, had numerous tests and blood work, and had multiple evaluations.
While in the NICU, Emersyn received multiple diagnoses that qualified her for early intervention. The staff at St Johns started the referral process immediately. After what felt like a long wait, Emersyn’s therapies began.

Almost two years later we can finally state that Emersyn is receiving all the therapies she needs to thrive - and she's doing exactly that. Everyone who works with Emersyn celebrates her victories. Due to Emersyn’s list of disabilities, she requires a lot of advocacy. Her mother - Taylor, doctors, therapist, and Sarah Behrends of Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois' Early Head Start who acts as her Family Educator all contribute to this. Emersyn is in the early stages of obtaining an in-home nurse that way Taylor can go back to working a full-time job.

Emersyn has severe to profound hearing loss in both ears and is currently taking steps towards the cochlear implant. She also has a vision impairment called CVI (Cortical Vision Impairment). Her vision is perfect; however, there's damage to the brain's visual processing pathways. Essentially her eyes and brain don't always correspond. There is less than 2% of the global population that have dual sensory loss. Recently, her mother, with help from Sarah, applied for braille books for Emersyn offered through the Dolly Parton Library. She was quickly approved and received her first book shortly after. Emersyn loves the books and will hold them close and feel the letters when they are received.

This story proves that we must be a strong advocate and resource for our children and their families. It truly does take a village.

Find out more about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and the braille books program at www.imaginationlibrary.com.

05/12/2026

📚We are expanding across Illinois! 📚
Would you like to inspire a love of reading or increase early literacy in your community? We need partners like YOU to help start a program and create a culture of reading for babies and young children. To find out how you can start a program, visit https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/start-a-program/

05/05/2026

It's , celebrating children's books and the importance of literacy and reading! Recent research shows children enrolled in the Imagination Library build strong early reading foundations that help words, characters, and dreams take root.📚
"We have been signed up since our little boy was 6 months old. He is now coming up to 18 months and he loves new book day... it’s helped with his speech and recognition skills. We are very grateful to have this available to us.” (Kristy N.)
Give your child one new story each month in the mail — no cost, no catch ❤️: https://imaginationlibrary.com/international-research/