Dolly Parton is sending free books to children across 21 states — and around the world

Dolly Parton, inspired by her father’s struggle with illiteracy, has dedicated nearly three decades to improving literacy through her Imagination Library program. This initiative mails free books to children under 5 across 21 states, including Missouri and Kentucky, where it has expanded statewide. Parton celebrated this achievement with visits to both states, sharing the story of her father, Robert Lee Parton, who, despite being one of the smartest people she knew, was embarrassed by his inability to read. Launched in 1995 in a single Tennessee county, the program now sends over 3 million books monthly to children in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Australia, totaling over 240 million books distributed globally.

Source: AP News