08/27/2026
Dolly Parton mailed 325 million books to kids and never once asked a child to prove they deserved one.
That’s where Kids Read for Free came from. We didn’t invent anything. We were inspired by Dolly.
Since May 2025, we’ve put over 12,000 free books into kids’ hands right here in Johnson City. A drop in the bucket next to what she did, but 12,000 times a kid walked out of here owning a book, and that was always the whole point.
The work isn’t done. Only about 3 in 10 fourth graders in Tennessee read at grade level. Dolly saw that number and spent thirty years doing something about it instead of talking about it.
Thank you, Dolly. For the books, and for showing a lot of us that you don’t need permission to start.
We’ll keep going.
If you want to honor her, bring us kids books. Gently used is perfect. Drop it off at 333 E. Main St. and it goes straight onto the shelf for the next kid who walks in. Or donate directly to Imagination Library to keep the good work going.
Kids’ books are always free at 333 E. Main St. To celebrate Dolly’s legacy, join us for our first annual Dolly Day on 9/25 at JLD!❤️💎🦋📚✨
