Dolly Parton is an Appalachian Horatio Alger whose rags-to-riches story saw her climbing out of a poverty-stricken childhood to a career that made her name a household word. Songwriter and singer, actress and author, creator of one of the country’s biggest attractions – Tennessee’s Dollywood – this Queen of Country Music has not only made millions of dollars by dint of talent and hard work, but has kept the heart of gold given her long ago by her two loving parents. One recent instance of this is seen in the $2 million Parton donated to the victims of Hurricane Helene.
For most of my adult life, I was vaguely aware of Parton. If the radio played her music, I enjoyed it. Long ago, I saw her in the films “Steel Magnolias” and “9 to 5,” neither of which really stuck with me. But about 10 years ago, in a branch library in Asheville, N.C., I learned something about the imitable Parton that forever captured my book-loving heart.
In the library that afternoon, I came across a small display of brochures and select children’s books under a sign reading “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.” One brochure explained that in 1995 – to honor her father who never learned to read or write, and in an effort to encourage reading aloud to children – Parton started a program whereby she and her organization sent a new book every year to children from birth to age five in her home county of Sevierville, Tenn. The brochure then recounted the rapid expansion of that program to include other parts of the country, with millions of books given away to kids.
Further investigation into Parton’s passion for books led me to the beautiful backstory of Parton’s generosity.
Parton grew up as the fourth child of 12 living in a cabin where books were scarce, yet two of her favorite childhood memories had to do with the printed word. She tells of snuggling up to her mother while she read the Bible to her children. “The stories from the Old Testament were wild, vivid stories of good and bad that both scared and excited me,” she later wrote. “It made me want to know more, and most of all, it made me want to read more.” Those explorations of Scripture made reading the Bible a lifelong habit and delight.
The other book that most profoundly influenced her life was her treasured copy of Watty Piper’s “The Little Engine That Could.” Even today, Parton cites this childhood classic as her favorite all-time book:
Of course, everybody knows ‘I Think I Can, I Think I Can.’ To me, it is one of those simple but powerful messages for us all to believe in ourselves and always strive to fulfill your dreams. I often say that little phrase over and over to help conquer my apprehensions or my nerves before I am about to launch into something that is just a little bit scary to me. Once I do it, it restores my confidence and allows me to go from The Little Engine that Could to The Little Engine that Did!
Parton’s love of books remains as lively as ever. She reads every day, sometimes for hours, finding that this solitary activity acts as tinder for her own creativity.
“Today I read everything I can get my hands on,” she says. “I believe that when you read, even if you don’t get a chance to get an education, you can learn about everything.”
As of September 2024, Parton’s Imagination Library had gifted over 254 million free books to children, schools and libraries in the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia. When Parton visits classrooms that have received books from the Imagination Library, the kids call her “the Book Lady,” a tag of endearment that made her illiterate father prouder of her than all her performances and awards in show business.
To Parton’s titles of entertainer and entrepreneur we should add educator. Her magnanimity has exposed millions of children to good stories, and as an ardent reader she reminds the rest of us, children and adults alike, of the gifts and pleasures we can glean from literature.
When my children were growing up, for instance, favorite read-aloud books ran the gamut from “Goodnight Moon” and “The Runaway Bunny” to the “Little House on the Prairie” series. My preschooler sons loved the Mercer Mayer “Little Critter” books and later, the “Redwall” series, whereas my daughter took a shine to the “Boxcar Children.” From my mother, I had inherited a 1949 full set of Childcraft volumes, whose nursery rhymes and stories along with beautiful illustrations enchanted our children. Though out of print, different editions of these sets are still available from online secondhand dealers.
In Parton’s song “Try,” we find these words:
"I’ve always been a dreamer
And dreams are special things
But dreams are of no value
If they’re not equipped with wings."
When we share books with our children, we’re not only giving them wings. We’re giving them dreams as well.
Jeff Minick is a father of four and grandfather to many. A former history, literature, and Latin teacher, Jeff now writes prolifically for The Epoch Times, American Essence Magazine, and several other publications.
This culture article was made possible by The Fred & Rheta Skelton Center for Cultural Renewal, a project of 1819 News.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819news.com.
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