IMAGINATION LIBRARY in THE WEST TAMAR

ENROL YOUR CHILD HERE

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a program that delivers 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 in the West Tamar and Trevallyn can join the program at no charge to the family as a gift from Rosie’s Reading, United Way Australia, Dollywood Foundation and our local partners.

WE’RE GIFTING EVERY CHILD THE BEST START IN LIFE THROUGH THE MAGIC OF READING

ENROL YOUR CHILD HERE

WEST TAMAR MISSION

1440+
Children 0-5 (ABS data)

17,280
Books delivered each year

345,600
Shared reading moments

MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION from $9

WHY READ every DAY from birth?

BRAINS GROW FAST in the first 1000 days

A baby’s brain develops more during the first 1000 days than at any other time of life. From birth, a baby’s brain is building the pathways they will use for learning, talking, thinking and feeling. Every story, song and cuddle helps. Reading aloud each day gives babies words, sounds, rhythm and connection. It may feel simple, but these small moments help build a strong foundation before school even begins.

READING BUILDS LOVING BONDS

A book is more than a book. It’s cuddle time, eye contact, voices and love. When families read together, children feel safe, seen and close to the people who care for them. These calm, shared moments help build trust and connection, which children carry with them as they grow.

LITERACY HELPS CHILDREN TAKE PART IN LIFE

Reading is a building block for almost everything else. It helps children learn at school, understand health information, manage money, follow instructions, find work and keep learning through life. When we support reading from birth, we;re not just giving books. We’re helping children build the skills to take part in a rapidly changing world.

A SHARED EXPERIENCE

Books give children shared experiences. They help them recognise characters, dress up for Book Week, talk about stories with friends and when a book from Imagination Library is shown on their first day at school they can ALL say “I’ve got that book!”. When every child has books at home from birth, we help create an enjoyable and inclusive start.

READING HELPS US REST

In a world full of screens, noise and rushing, reading gives children and families a calm place to land. Stories can help children settle, name feelings and feel safe. A daily book can become a quiet habit that supports emotional regulation, family connection and a love of learning that lasts well beyond childhood. It even helps the adults do the same!

Australians are reading less every year and this is a also a growing problem for children. We want to make reading a team sport that is in every home and across community.

We believe every Tasmanian can be a child’s reading hero.

SEE THE GLOBAL EVIDENCE

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

  • Every child currently living in West Tamar + Trevallyn can be registered before their 4th birthday.

  • A monthly home delivered book program for children from 0-5 years old, free of charge to families.

  • Each year, an independent local Australian committee selects a special booklist of age-appropriate and culturally diverse books. This committee is aware of the importance of localising the books, so the booklist is Australian, with many well-known Australian titles, including indigenous titles, that have Australian English spelling. i.e., Color is Colour, and Mom is Mum.

  • Reading to your child from a young age will help their language development and assist them to develop the skills to read themselves as they get older.

  • There’s more to this program than just the reading. Giving a child pride of ownership, offering a child the chance to get excited each month when that gift arrives allowing them to build a relationship with books being an exciting gift. In addition, research also shows that recall is better when we read on a physical page and books help to regulate a busy mind but devices overstimulate which can cause sleep and concentration issues.

  • Yes. We will be working with local partners including schools and libraries to offer support for parents who may have literacy challenges. This way we can also help parents who may have low reading ability.

  • Contact Rosie’s Reading via message or support@rosiesreading.org and we will update your delivery address. Please let us know as soon as you know, because a book may already be on the way to the old address.

  • Books may arrive at different times of the month, but you should receive a book within 5 weeks of registration. Please message us if you don’t.

    Keep in mind, you should also go to your 2 week CHaPS visit, where you will receive your Little Tasmanians book from Brand Tasmania. This isn’t part of the library, but we love that you get this Tasmanian book first :-)

  • No.

    The program is free to families and caregivers.

    Rosie’s Reading is working with community and business partners to raise the funds to keep the program running. The cost for us to deliver the books is $9 per month per child (or $540 across 5 years).

  • Our target is to have it available to ALL Tasmanian children but we have to budget well ahead.

    Rosie’s Reading only wants to make a promise to a chld that we know we can keep.
    Therefore any child starting the program will receive their full 5 years of books.

    This means we raise money to open an area (usually based on a council area), and once we know we can fund that area long term, we open another area.

    We’re always working on new areas with local business and community leaders. We can’t do it alone, but a little contribution from across each community can make a big difference.

  • Rosie Mostogl was Rick’s Mum (the President of Rosie’s Reading Inc). She didn’t have great literacy skills after a pretty bumpy childhood, but becoming a parent proved to be a catalyst for her to polish her reading, and books were a very important part of the household. Rosie passed away in 2022 and this charity has been set up to give a warm hug to all of Tassie’s Kids from Rosie through the gift of reading.