JONESBORO, Ark. — Children under the age of five in Craighead County are receiving free, age-appropriate books every month, thanks to a partnership between Nettleton Public Schools and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program.
The Imagination Library was launched in Tennessee 31 years ago by the iconic performer to honor her father, who was unable to read. The initiative aims to promote literacy by providing young children with free books to foster a love of reading from an early age.
The program began expanding nationwide in 2000, with Arkansas communities participating by 2002. By 2003, the Imagination Library had delivered its one-millionth book to children across the country. Today, affiliate programs operate in all 75 Arkansas counties, including Craighead County, where Nettleton Public Schools joined as a local partner in April 2026.
Jennifer Gray, pre-K director and parent engagement coordinator at Nettleton Public Schools, explained that the books are mailed directly to the children, making each delivery feel special.
“They sign up online, or I can assist with registration,” Gray said. “The books are mailed directly to the students in their mailbox. So they get something special every month. It’s a new, age-appropriate book, and it has their name on it.”
Since Nettleton became a local affiliate, the program’s enrollment in Craighead County has grown from 32% to 37%, meaning more than 2,700 children now receive a new book each month, Gray noted.
The program is open to all children under five in Craighead County, not just students in the Nettleton district. Gray emphasized the importance of early literacy for all children in the community.
“We think that early literacy is vital to all of our students — not just here at Nettleton Public Schools, but also in our community. So we became the local program partner for Craighead County,” she said.
The initiative is funded through donations and community partnerships, ensuring the books remain free for families. Gray encouraged anyone interested in supporting the program to reach out to her directly.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library continues its goal of distributing books to children across the United States and globally. Gray said Nettleton Public Schools intends to uphold that mission in Craighead County.
“We will do everything that we can to continue this,” she said. “I think the best way to honor Dolly and her legacy is to keep putting books in the hands of children.”
Parents interested in enrolling their children can sign up at arkansasimaginationlibrary.org or contact Jennifer Gray directly at jennifer.gray@nettletonschools.net.