• I have twins. Will they receive the same book every month?
  • Yes. Instead of receiving two identical books every month, families with twins can enroll both children as one. We can put both children’s names on the mailing label so they will receive the gift together each month.
• My older child already receives books. Will my younger child receive the same books?
  • The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Book Selection Committee rotates approximately 25% of titles for each age group each year, so, yes, they may receive some of the same books. Families who enroll multiple children and therefore receive some “repeat” books can choose to donate the duplicates to homeless shelters, school libraries, and other nonprofits. Please remember to peel the mailing label from the back of the books before donating to protect your privacy.
• Why do my child’s books come at different times every month?
  • Penguin Random House specially prints Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books every month, keeping program costs affordable. The different age groups’ books are mailed as they are ready, which varies from month to month. Your children’s books can arrive at any point in the month.
• I am moving. How do I change my address?
  • It is extremely important to remember to contact us to change your address when you move. You may reach the Imagination Library coordinator by email or by calling (919) 723-9272. If you provided an email address during registration, you can also change your address through your parent account. If you move outside of Wake County, you can no longer receive books from the Imagination Library through Wake County Smart Start. However, you can check here to see if it is available in your new area.
• How long does it take to receive my child’s first book once I have received the email that my child has been enrolled?
  • It can take 8-10 weeks after enrollment for your child to receive their first book. For example, if you sign up in September, your child will receive the first book in November. Because the national organization is so large, it takes a little while to get new addresses into their system. But once you get the first book, a new book will be delivered regularly every month until your child’s 5th birthday.
• My child stopped receiving books. What happened?
  • If your child recently turned 5 years old, they have graduated from the program. Their last book should have been Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! If you moved, please contact us and give us your new address as books are not forwarded. If your new address is still in Wake County, we can update your child’s account and they should receive the next book at your new address in 8-10 weeks. If your new address is outside of Wake County, we will attempt to transfer your registration to an affiliate serving your new community.
• What is a parent account?
  • If you provided an email address during registration, a parent account is automatically created for you. Once your child is approved and active in the program, parent account information, including your username and password, is emailed to you. Your username is always your email address. With your parent account, you can check your child’s enrollment status, edit your address, and view a list of the titles mailed each month.
• Why is my child’s status listed as “pending”?
  • Registrations received online will be placed into a pending area until the program coordinator reviews the information. Once the registration is approved, the child becomes active in the program, and the parent will receive an email. The accounts of children who have recently moved are flagged and moved into a pending area until their address is updated. Please note that a child’s status may only remain in the pending area for up to 60 days before being permanently removed from the system. It is important to contact Wake County Imagination Library Coordinator, Denise Rossi at drossi@wakesmartstart.org if there is a change of address or to update it via your parent account.
• How does Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library benefit children?
  • Inspiring the love of reading and learning early in a child’s life helps to develop strong literacy skills. Statistics and independent reports have shown Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library drastically improves early childhood literacy and enhances Kindergarten readiness for children enrolled in the program. Children read more when books are in the home!
• How can I keep up-to-date about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Wake County?
  • When you enroll your child with a valid email address, you will automatically receive a Wake County Smart Start Imagination Library Newsletter email the third Tuesday of every month. This newsletter provides information about the Imagination Library in Wake County, fun literacy activities to do at home, other literacy resources in your community, and so much more. Be sure to whitelist or add Wake County Smart Start to your safe senders list to be sure you don’t miss one!

General Resources:

21-Day Read Aloud Challenge | LINK

WCPSS Office of Early Learning | LINK

Project Enlightenment | LINK

Wake County Public Libraries | LINK

Marbles Kids Museum | LINK

Imagination Library Reading Tips | LINK

WAKE Up and Read | LINK

Reading Rockets | LINK

PBS Kids | LINK

Read Aloud | LINK

Wake County Family Resources | LINK

For Babies (birth to 2):

Supporting Language and Literacy Skills (0-12 months) | LINK

Supporting Language and Literacy Skills (12-24 months) | LINK

Reading Tips for Parents of Babies | LINK

For Toddlers (2 to 3):

Language and Literacy Skills (24-36 months) | LINK

Age 2 Literacy from PBS | LINK

Age 3 Literacy from PBS | LINK

Reading Tips for Parents of Toddlers | LINK

For Preschoolers (4 to 5):

Reading 101 for Parents: Your Pre-K Child | LINK

Literacy at Home: Reading with Your Child | LINK

Age 4 Literacy from PBS | LINK

Age 5 Literacy from PBS | LINK

Reading Tips for Parents of Preschoolers | LINK

For Early Educators:

Early Literacy: Policy and Practice in the Preschool Years | LINK

Developmentally Appropriate Approaches to Literacy from NAEYC | LINK

Create a Language-Rich Environment for Your Students from The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance | LINK

North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development from NCDHHS | LINK