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Reporter Clare Mulroy shares bookish news and recommendations.

Thu Aug 27 2026

Clare Mulroy | Books Reporter

Happy Thursday, booklovers!

Today I want to honor a literary steward, a champion of books whose impact will outlast her by generations.

Dolly Parton died this week after a brief, private battle with cancer . I’m remembering her not just as the Queen of Country Music, but with an accolade she preferred – “book lady.” She once said she wanted to be remembered "not for looks but for books."

Parton was a lifelong reader, but her father couldn't read. This inspired her to start Imagination Library in 1995, a program to bring free monthly books to kids. Before he died, he told Parton it was “probably the most important thing (she) had ever done.”

Dolly Parton is pictured speaking with children at the launch of her Imagination Library at the Magna Centre in Sheffield, England, on Dec. 5, 2007. The early literacy program has provided more than 287.5 million free books to children over the past 30 years.

Nigel Roddis, Reuters

One in six U.S. children under the age of 5 receives books from Parton’s initiative, starting with “The Little Engine That Could” and ending with “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” At the time of her death, more than 332,000,000 books had been gifted.

Seeing this Imagination Library letter to 5-year-olds brought tears to my eyes: “This may be your last book from my Imagination Library but you have to promise me you will keep on reading. If you go to your local public library you will find a great number of books just for kids your age. Every book is a treasure and every time you open one up you will meet new friends and take wonderful journeys to magical places.”

Parton’s dream was that “all children should grow up in a home full of books.” Thanks to her, children for over 30 years have. More than 3 million kids get a shot at becoming lifelong readers too. And readers raise readers. The book world is forever better because of her.

Read our full bookish tribute to Parton here, or learn how to sign up for the Imagination Library here.

Has your family participated in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library? Let me know at cmulroy@usatoday.com or reach out on Instagram. Thanks for checking out USA TODAY Books this week!