DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY IS NOW AVAILABLE ACROSS FLINDERS ISLAND

Dolly Parton’sImagination Library is a program that gifts a specially selected book every month to our little Tasmanians from birth to the age of 5. Tip sheets are included for parents and caregivers to use when sharing a book with their child. It’s all delivered to the home with the child’s name on the package, and the books are theirs to keep!

Any child under age 4 and living on Flinders Island can join the program at no charge to the family.

Need a hand to register? Ask the team at Thrive Group at 6 Davies Street Whitemark, to guide you through the quick process. You just need names and an address.

EVERY TASMANIAN CAN BE A CHILD’S READING HERO

our local funding partner

"Here at Thrive Group, we’re passionate about literacy and helping children experience the joy and magic of reading. Through this partnership, we’re taking learning from beyond the early childhood setting (centre) to the home and empowering families to become their child’s reading hero."
- Ed Beswick, CEO of the not-for-profit Thrive Group Tasmania.

Thrive's educators will have books delivered to the 9 centres that Thrive operates so they can do shared reading time using the same amazing titles that children in their communities are receiving at their mailboxes. This helps with repetition which is very important to children in their first 1000 days as their brains create new connections that will empower them for life.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

HOW DOES imagination library CHANGE LIVES?

PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP

These books are delivered to the child with their name on it. Something that is theirs that they can take pride in.

INFANT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

A baby’s brain develops more quickly during the first 1000 days than at any other time of life. It helps to build the ability to focus and concentrate, and build emotional skills.

EARLY BONDING WITH PARENTS

Reading provides a parent a chance to connect with their child, to snuggle while they hear their parent’s voice and builds a level of security and resilience.

HELP BROADER COMMUNITY ISSUES

Poor literacy is associated with dropping out of school, decreased workforce capacity, decreased work productivity, lower earnings, and welfare dependency and is linked to crime, poor health outcomes and social isolation.

BE READY FOR KINDERGARTEN

A child's language development begins well before they enter school, heavily influenced by their home learning environment. Evidence shows that regardless of income, children from “language rich” home environments can bridge the word gap that puts them behind their peers when they start school.

PROMPT READING FREQUENCY

Even homes with mid to high levels of education can get busy. The more regularly we read the more we make the most of those early years to learn more words, tap in to curiosity and to be inspired. Having books sent monthly sets the tone of a ‘reading household’ and acts as a timely prompt.

Australians are reading less every year and this is a problem for children. We want to create a culture of reading, to see more books being picked up more often and to spark imaginations in our young people!