PREPARING TO LAUNCH: KINGBOROUGH

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) is a program with proven outcomes that helps kids to start school with a love of reading, a big imagination, a hunger to learn and an experience that all of their new classmates have shared in - regardless of their postcode or background. This gift of reading is at no cost to the families.

Reading from birth is proven to take advantage of the first 1000 days of life, when a child’s brain develops the building blocks and connections faster than at any other point in life. Our Imagination Library has been carefully selected to assist the stages of development, featuring Australian-aligned books from quality publishers.

All children born after January 1, 2025, and living in Kingborough, will be able to join the program at no cost. Each child will receive a quality children’s book every month from birth (or the next month after registering) until they turn 5 years old. There are also tip sheets to help families make the most of reading time - and the books are theirs to keep!

HELP US GIFT EVERY CHILD THE BEST START IN LIFE THROUGH THE MAGIC OF LITERACY

“Little by little, little by little, a little turns into a lot” - The Wolfe Brothers

KINGBOROUGH PROGRAM

2075
Children 0-5 (ABS data)

$60,000
Funding target to launch

57,800
Individual books delivered

$510,000
First 5 year Investment

three steps to launch

1 - Local Champions Group
The role of this group is to unite and mobilise other changemakers in the local area to help build funding, enrolment and reading partners for a community-wide culture of reading. We know time is precious, so it’s just a way to stay in touch, be a local ambassador and lend a hand if you can!

Contact us to join.

2 - Meet the Funding Target
Through collaboration from business, service clubs, fundraising events and donors matched with the support from Rosie’s Reading and United Way Australia, the funding target to launch Kingborough is $60,000.

3 - Open Registrations
When the initial fundraising target is reached, we will open registrations within 7 days. Books will start arriving to the mailboxes of enrolled children within 6 weeks.

Download the sponsorship pack for local area sponsorships here or contact us to discuss how we can build an enduring legacy together.

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 to keep 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. Shared reading helps to build the ability to focus, concentrate and regulate, and also build emotional and cognitive skills.

EARLY BONDING WITH PARENTS

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

HELP BROADER COMMUNITY ISSUES

Poor literacy is associated with disengaged students, low (or no) school attendance, decreased workforce capacity, reduced work productivity, lower earnings, and welfare dependency and is linked to crime, poor health outcomes and social isolation.

START SCHOOL…
READY TO LEARN

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 would otherwise put 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 and big dreams in our young people!