Imagination Library Prepares
Tennessee ’s Preschoolers to Learn!

The Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation is thrilled to share results of the first large-scale study on the Imagination Library’s impact on learning preparedness of Tennessee children now enrolled in public schools.

In 2007, the GBBF commissioned the Tennessee Board of Regents to solicit kindergarten and pre-kindergarten teachers’ professional judgments on the readiness and performance of students who had participated in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – a program that mails a new, age-appropriate, hardcover book every month to registered children, from birth until age five, at no cost to the family and regardless of income. 

Responding kindergarten and pre-K teachers collectively affirmed that children who had participated in the Imagination Library were “better prepared” than students who had not participated in the program. 

On average, Imagination Library participants also exceeded teacher expectations: 

• 48% of kindergarten teachers and 64% of pre-K teachers stated that Imagination Library participants performed “better than expected”
  or “much better than expected” than students from previous classes …
• As compared to only 10% of kindergarten teachers and 11% of pre-K teachers reporting that non-participants performed “better than expected” or “much better than expected.”

Resources & Media Materials:

Read the GBBF Statewide News Release on the TBR research results (PDF)

Read the TBR Summary Report of Fall ’07 Survey Findings for Kindergarten Students (PDF)

Read the TBR Summary Report of Fall ’07 Survey Findings for Pre-Kindergarten Students (PDF)

Read the GBBF’s Winter 2008 Signpost newsletter detailing the TBR research results (PDF)

Read the GBBF’s Fall 2007 Signpost newsletter detailing the TBR pilot research results (PDF)

The Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation offers these objective and positive research findings as proof that Tennessee’s statewide Imagination Library is working to prepare our state’s youngest citizens for success in school, and in life!

Donate online and support a county Imagination Library today!