Children Ages 0-5 to Receive Free Books Each Month through the Program
Sheboygan, WI — United Way of Sheboygan County is excited to announce the upcoming launch of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the 53081 ZIP code, beginning January 19, 2026.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) is a nationally-recognized early literacy program that helps children build home libraries and fosters a lifelong love of reading. The program will provide free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, delivered directly to their homes each month.
By mailing books directly to families, the program addresses common barriers such as transportation, cost and access, ensuring every child has the opportunity to develop critical early literacy skills during the most important years of brain development. The local launch date was intentionally selected to coincide with Dolly Parton’s birthday, honoring her lifelong commitment to literacy and children’s education.
“The Imagination Library is the perfect program to help break down barriers and support our community’s youngest learners in their early literacy journeys,” said Ryan Wilinski, Director of Community Partnership for Children at United Way of Sheboygan County (UWSC). “Early literacy is one of the strongest predictors of long-term academic success, and by providing children with consistent access to high-quality books from birth, we’re helping families build strong reading routines, supporting kindergarten readiness and setting children on a path toward lifelong learning.”
Local data highlights the urgency of this effort. In public schools within the 53081 ZIP code, 60% of third-grade students read below grade level, compared to 47% statewide. Research consistently shows that children who have access to books in the home and are read to regularly are more likely to enter kindergarten ready to learn and stay on track academically.
The program will be open to all children under age five living in the 53081 ZIP code. Families can begin registering their children on January 19 at uwofsc.org/DPILsignup, with the first books scheduled to begin arriving in March.
UWSC is funding the program locally through a combination of business and foundation partnerships, community support and individual donations. The cost of the program is approximately $32 per child per year, making it a high-impact, cost-effective investment in Sheboygan County’s future.
Community members and organizations interested in supporting the program or learning more about sponsorship opportunities are encouraged to visit uwofsc.org/DPIL. For more information about The Dollywood Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library nationally, visit imaginationlibrary.com.
About United Way of Sheboygan County
United Way of Sheboygan County has been a cornerstone of community support since 1934, improving lives and community conditions through uniting partners and inspiring action to build a stronger, more connected Sheboygan County, with a strong focus on early childhood, education, health and financial stability.
About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Launched in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is the world’s leading early childhood book-gifting program. As the flagship initiative of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Imagination Library has gifted more than 300 million free books to children across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
The program is made possible through a unique partnership model in which funding is shared between The Dollywood Foundation and hundreds of Local Community Partners. Today, the Imagination Library mails over 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month directly to children’s homes. Every enrolled child receives one book per month from birth to age five, at no cost to their families.
Inspired by her own father’s struggles with literacy, Dolly created the Imagination Library to spark a lifelong love of reading and to inspire all children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More.
The program’s effectiveness has been extensively studied, with research consistently demonstrating positive impacts on early childhood development, kindergarten readiness and family reading habits. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.
