Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a free book access program, is restarting in the City of Pittsburgh thanks to funding from the City and local foundations, including The Benter Foundation and the Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation.
The free program sends one book per month in the mail to enrolled children ages birth to five at no cost to families.
How to Enroll
Families who reside in the City of Pittsburgh can enroll in the program by visiting the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library website.
Families who were previously enrolled in the program will not need to re-enroll and should start receiving books again automatically.
About the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Restart
The program halted at the end of April 2023 for most city children after funding had run out. (A small group of children in three zip codes were still eligible to participate.)
Reading Ready Pittsburgh, a local nonprofit that supports access to books and encourages family engagement through reading, will administer the program at the beginning of the restart period.
Related Content & Resources
Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them.
Here is a list of resources for August observances:
Month-Long Observances
Summer Sun Safety Month
National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
- National Center Releases Guide on Children’s Eye Health, Trying Together
- An Eye Health Information Tool Kit for Parents and Caregivers, National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health
- Eye Health and Safety for Kids, National Eye Institute (NEI)
- Get Free or Low-Cost Eye Care For Children, National Eye Institute (NEI)
- Eye Conditions and Diseases, National Eye Institute (NEI)
- 6 Ways to Be Proactive About Your Child’s Eye Health, John Hopkins Medicine
- Keep an Eye on Your Child’s Vision, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Resources for Parents of Blind and Low-Vision Children, Library of Congress: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
- Parenting Without Sight: What Attorneys and Social Workers Should Know About Blindness, National Federation of the Blind
- How to Get Free Audio Books for the Blind and Visually Impaired, The Braille Institute
- 25+ Children’s Books Featuring Visually Impaired Characters, WonderBaby
Back to School Month
National Breastfeeding Month
Weeks of Recognition
August 6 – 12 is Exercise with Your Child Week
- Childhood Physical Health: Resources, Trying Together
- Play and Physical Activity Guide for Educators & Families, Trying Together
- Supporting Childhood Physical Health: A Guide for Families: The Importance of Exercise, Trying Together
- Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health, Trying Together
- Air Quality Tips and Training Available for Families and Educators, Trying Together
- Physical Education Vocabulary for Kids, Trying Together
- Resources for Supporting Physical Activity, Nutrition, Play and More, Action for Healthy Kids
- Promoting the Physical Health of Boys (and Girls), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Days of Recognition
August 1 is National Night Out (NNO)
August 9 is National Book Lovers Day
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Releases 2023 Best Books for Babies List, Trying Together
- Toolkit: Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literacy Success, Trying Together
- 2023 Virtual Summer Learning and Literacy Road Trip, Trying Together
- Children’s Books on Race and Equity, Trying Together
- Books to Celebrate Gender Expression, Inclusion, and Pride, Trying Together
- Children’s Books About Transitions, Trying Together
- Children’s Books About Mental Health, Trying Together
- Restaurants Add Books to the Menu with Summer Reading Programs, Trying Together
August 15 is National Back To School Prep Day
August 26 is Women’s Equality Day
The Andy Warhol Museum, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and the Heinz History Center will be open to visitors free of charge every operating day throughout the month of August 2023.
‘3 For Free’ Campaign
The ‘3 For Free’ campaign will celebrate the museums’ recognition among the nation’s best. All three museums recently won honors from USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Through online voting, the museums collectively ranked in top five as some of the finest museums in the country: The Warhol (fourth in Best Art Museums), Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (second in Best Children’s Museums), and the Heinz History Center (second in Best History Museums).
Plan Your Visit
Visitors seeking free tickets during the ‘3 For Free’ month are encouraged to book online at each museum’s website. Advanced reservations are recommended, but not required.
Use the links below to secure your tickets:
This offer will be in addition to the annual free-admission RAD Days, which will begin in September.
Related Content & Resources
Various organizations, states, and nations recognize a number of observances each month. Resources help parents, caregivers, and child care professionals acknowledge and navigate them.
Here is a list of resources for July observances:
Month-Long Observances
- City of Pittsburgh Department of Parks & Recreation, CitiParks
- Summer Program Guide, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
- Top Green Spaces and Public Parks in Pittsburgh, Visit Pittsburgh
- Growing Equity in City Green Space, Eos
- Rocking and Rolling. Fresh Air, Fun, and Exploration: Why Outdoor Play Is Essential for Healthy Development, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature, Child Mind Institute
- Free Worksheet: Thank a Park Ranger Card, Education.com
- Become a Junior Ranger, National Park Service
- Five Fun Activities for Teaching Kids About Conservation, National Recreation and Park Association
- Allegheny County Shares Summer Safety Guidance, Trying Together
- 5 Pittsburgh Organizations supporting Our Most Vulnerable Children–and Inspiring Us to Help, Kidsburgh
- Most Popular Pittsburgh Children & Youth Nonprofits and Charities, Great Nonprofits
- Positive Parenting, National Institute of Health
- The Power of Positive Parenting, UC Davis Health
- 8 Ways to Strengthen a Parent-Child Relationship, Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin
- Bonding with Stepchildren: 7 Tips for Building a Strong Relationship, Care.com
- Three Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families, Harvard University Center on the Developing Child
- Strategies to Support Black Students, Teachers, and Communities in Schools, Education Northwest
- 12 Powerful Statistics That Prove Why Teachers Matter, We Are Teachers
- Family Engagement, Office of Head Start and Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center
- Raise Child Care, Start Strong PA
- Prioritizing Minority Mental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- BIPOC Mental Health, Mental Health America
- Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations, American Psychiatric Association
- Contextualizing BIPOC Youth Mental Health, National Black Women’s Justice Institute
- Mental Illness Doesn’t Discriminate, so Why Do BIPOC Communities Have Difficulty Accessing Care?, Jefferson Center for Mental Health
- Erasing Mental Health Stigma in the Black Community, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- BIPOC/AAPI Mental Health Resources, NAMI New Hampshire
- Where to Find Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents in Pittsburgh, The University of Pittsburgh: Youth and Family Research Program
- Anti-Racism Resources for Families, Trying Together
- Multilingual Trauma Resources, The Child Mind Institute
Days of Recognition
- Drowning Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Drowning Prevention & Facts, American Red Cross
- Water Safety at Home, Safe Kids Worldwide
- Water Safety Tips for Families, Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Toddler Water Safety: 14 Ways to Keep Safer, Stop Drowning Now
- Water Safety for Your Special Needs Child, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Resources: Learn to Swim, Allegheny County
- 4 Places To Get FREE Summer Swim Lessons For Kids In The ‘Burgh, Macaroni Kid
- How to Perform Child and Baby CPR, American Red Cross
- Trying Together and ELRC Region 5 Partnering to Offer First Aid & CPR Training, ELRC Region 5
Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls.
Learn More
Here is a list of June recalls collected from the following major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
More Information
For recall details, visit the links above or review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites.
Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls.
Learn More
Here is a list of April recalls collected from the following major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
More Information
For recall details, visit the links above or review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites.
Parents and caregivers should be aware of several child-related product recalls.
Learn More
Here is a list of March recalls collected from the following major federal agencies: the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
More Information
For recall details, visit the links above or review the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites.
Are you a single mom or caregiver in need of some self-care? Women’s Rap provides a safe place for communication, encouragement, and reflection.
Event Details
Second Friday of Every Month
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location
The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center
7219 Kelly Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Learn More
For more information, contact Toni Beasley at 412.540.5732 or toni@tryingtogether.org. Learn more about the Homewood Early Learning Hub and Family Center on the Trying Together website.
Please share this flyer with your networks.
Are you a single mom or caregiver in need of some self-care? Women’s Rap provides a safe place for communication, encouragement, and reflection.
Event Details
Second Friday of Every Month
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location
The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center
7219 Kelly Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Learn More
For more information, contact Nicole Banner at 412.545.5039 or nicole@tryingtogether.org. Learn more about the Homewood Early Learning Hub and Family Center on the Trying Together website.
Please share this flyer with your networks.
Are you a single mom or caregiver in need of some self-care? Women’s Rap provides a safe place for communication, encouragement, and reflection.
Event Details
Second Friday of Every Month
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location
The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center
7219 Kelly Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Learn More
For more information, contact Nicole Banner at 412.545.5039 or nicole@tryingtogether.org. Learn more about the Homewood Early Learning Hub and Family Center on the Trying Together website.
Please share this flyer with your networks.
