read, learn, imagine! celebrating four years with imagination library

Dayton Children’s is excited to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the Montgomery County Imagination Library! Currently, 20,091 children are actively enrolled in the program, representing 65% of Montgomery County children between birth and age 5! 

Learn how you can get your child aged 0-5 signed up today. 

Since our launch in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, Dayton Children’s and Montgomery County so far has accomplished:  

• Mailing more than 638,000 free books to local children ages five years old and younger 
• Graduating 11,342 children from the program!  
• Partnering with more than 17 local organizations to distribute books across the community

Nurturing a love for reading is more important than ever in this new age of digital distractions. These milestones would not be possible without the support of our community partners and funders who value literacy as a foundation for academic and life-long success! 

discover the magic of reading 

Reading to a child in their early years of life (from birth to age five) can have a huge impact on overall development. Reading together is a fun activity to do with your child but also can help support their: 

• cognitive development: Reading stimulates a child’s brain helping them with comprehension skills and critical thinking skills while also building their vocabulary! 
• imagination and creativity: Books help children with creativity and out of the box thinking. Their imagination will grow as they read about new characters, settings and adventures. 
• bonding: Reading creates a special bonding time between children and their parents, caregivers, and other family members. 
• communication and language Skills: Reading exposes children to whole new world of words, which builds their language skills and can help make them better communicators. 

from covers to connections: the community’s support! 

Dayton Children’s and Montgomery County are thrilled to partner with organizations, including the Gem City Market, Preschool Promise, the Hope Center for Families, the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association and many others, to spread the word about Imagination Library in our county.  

We thank Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, our funders and partners for making this program available to children in Montgomery 

A special thank you also goes to First Lady Fran DeWine for her ongoing commitment to this program! 

And finally, the program’s success is also thanks to the dedication of parents and caregivers who not only signed up for the program but who read these wonderful books regularly to their children. Together, we are making a significant impact on improving outcomes for children! 

be a part of the magic 

Imagination Library is continuing its mission of inspiring a love of reading in children and in Montgomery County, we’re ready to reach even more families.  

No matter what county you’re in, to become a part of this enriching program and start getting free books delivered to your little one, just sign up here. 

You can join us in fostering a love for reading and supporting the development of our next generation. Learn more about our local program’s achievements and impacts in 2023 by exploring our Annual Report.