Reading Ready Pittsburgh and the city of Pittsburgh are working together to expand participation in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL), a book-gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age 5.
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The program sends the free, age-appropriate books to children who live in the city as well as those living in 20 additional ZIP codes.
Each DPIL subscription begins with a copy of the classic children’s story, “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. There are no household income requirements to take part in the program, and enrollment only takes a few minutes.
Those interested in taking part in the program can check eligibility and register online on Reading Ready Pittsburgh’s website.
“This is a great program,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor in an Instagram post about DPIL. “Reading is very important, especially at a very young age – and we want to provide free books to as many kids across the city as we possibly can. It’s very simple to sign up. I just did it in a couple of minutes.”
Caregivers interested in enrolling their child in the program should:
- Submit an official registration form, completely filled out by the authorized adult.
- Notify Reading Ready Pittsburgh any time your address changes.
- Read the book selections with your child.
Books will begin arriving about eight to 10 weeks after the registration form has been received. Households will continue to receive one book per month until the registered child turns age 5.
Reading Ready Pittsburgh will host a special night for educators at B is for Books on Wednesday, February 18.
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The event, which runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., will include a light dinner and desserts, raffles, teacher resources, and books.
Rebecca Chrystal, of Raising a Reader National, will deliver a presentation titled “Stories that Spark! Engaging Families through Diverse Books.”
Those interested in attending should
RSVP by using the QR code on the flyer. Attendees can invite any educators of young children, and the event’s focus will be nursery school through second grade.
Reading Ready for Pittsburgh is offering Fill a Bag Month for teachers to freshen up their classroom libraries with a bag or box of free books.
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Any teacher or professional who works with children is eligible for free books during August’s Fill a Bag Month at Reading Ready for Pittsburgh’s B is for Books.
Eligible participants will be able to come to the B is for Books store, located at 222 E. 8th Avenue in Homestead, this month to pick out the books. Or, the book store can pick out a selection for teachers or professionals who need a little assistance.
Those who are interested in participating should fill out this form.
Educators of children, from birth to age 5, are invited to learn more about how to support children’s skill building across early childhood.
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All Children Are Ready to Learn will focus on strategies to support children and families in kindergarten transition. Those who attend will be able to earn two PQAS hour credits.
Reading Ready Pittsburgh will host the workshop with special guests, including Val Williams, Trying Together’s kindergarten transition program director.
The event will run from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 222 E. 8th Ave. in Homestead. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided.
Reading Ready Pittsburgh will host a Halloween-themed event that features book giveaways in late October.
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Halloween Hoopla will include a storytime, Halloween book giveaway, snacks, pumpkin decorating, and more activities. Pumpkins will be provided at the event – however, supplies are limited, so it’s first come, first served.
Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes to the event.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – with a storytime at 11:30 a.m. – on Saturday, Oct. 26. It will be held at B is for Books, located at 222 E. 8th Avenue in Homestead.
Reading Ready Pittsburgh is seeking input from area families about early literacy through a short survey.
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Reading Ready Pittsburgh is hoping the survey will garner at least 300 to 500 responses before Sept. 15.
Areas from which they are especially interested in obtaining responses include:
- Braddock
- Homestead
- Munhall
- Swissvale
- Duquesne
- Rankin
- Turtle Creek
- McKeesport
- West Mifflin
- Clairton
Questions in the survey cover where parents access books for their children in the community, how often their child is exposed to books, and how Reading Ready Pittsburgh can help to support reading in the home.
Those interested in participating can take the survey now.
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.
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