What Dolly Parton Knew About Reading
Dolly Parton's 'Imagination Library' has become a massive global literacy initiative, distributing over 300 million free books to children since 1995. The program, inspired by her father's illiteracy, remains a central part of her legacy and philanthropic work.
Why it matters
It highlights the significant impact of celebrity-led philanthropy on early childhood education and literacy rates.
She wanted to be remembered, most of all, as the “book lady.”
Illustration by Alisa Gao / The Atlantic. Source: Katherine Bomboy / NBC / Getty. Link Copied This is an edition of the Books Briefing, our editors’ weekly guide to the best in books. Sign up for it here.
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