COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO — Today, Governor Jared Polis marked a major milestone for early childhood literacy by handing out the 3 millionth book delivered to a Colorado child through the Imagination Library of Colorado. He was joined by Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) Executive Director Dr. Lisa Roy and additional CDEC staff, the Imagination Library of Colorado, Early Connections Learning Centers, Pikes Peak United Way, and families, educators, and community partners in Colorado Springs to celebrate the achievement.

Through the Imagination Library of Colorado, more than 89,000 children across the state now receive a free, high-quality, age-specific book each month. Since the program began, 51,346 five-year-olds have graduated from the program, completing their series of early childhood books. Overall, the program reaches 26% of Colorado's zero- to five-year-old population, helping families build home libraries, establish daily reading routines, and prepare children for success in school. The program also began offering bilingual Spanish/English book options this past year for all interested families, leading to 18,491 bilingual books being mailed so far in 2026.

"Today a Colorado child received our state's 3 millionth book through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Access to books at a young age is important for a child's development and future learning. Through the Imagination Library we are expanding access to books at no cost to families, and inspiring the next generation of readers and learners, which strengthens our state's future," said Governor Polis.

Governor Polis poses for a photo with Lucas who was given the 3 millionth book from Colorado's Imagination Library, Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton.

Since the program expanded statewide in 2020, it has grown to serve families in all 64 counties through a unique public-private partnership model, with the State of Colorado matching locally raised funds to ensure books remain free for families.

"Reading in the early years builds the foundation for lifelong learning, healthy development, and strong relationships," said Dr. Lisa Roy, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. "Through the Imagination Library of Colorado, families across our state are building daily reading habits and strengthening connections with their children. When we invest in early literacy, we are opening the door to opportunity, confidence, and long-term success for every child."

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Governor Polis reads "nobunnys perfect" from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to students in Colorado Springs

"A new statewide study makes it clear that our program is among the highest-impact, lowest-cost strategies available to improve kindergarten readiness in Colorado," said Jack Tate, President and CEO of the Imagination Library of Colorado. "That impact is powered by a unique partnership—over 55 local nonprofits and the State of Colorado each investing to deliver books directly to children's homes. We thank our local affiliates for making this opportunity possible in communities across all 64 counties."

Reaching 3 million books delivered underscores the power of statewide collaboration between the Governor's Office, CDEC, the Imagination Library of Colorado, and non-profit partners in all 64 Colorado counties. Together, these partners help ensure that children, regardless of income or zip code, can access books at no cost to families and enter school ready to learn.

"Programs like the Imagination Library of Colorado and Head Start share a common goal: supporting families and giving every child a strong start in life," said Heather Craiglow, Head Start State Collaboration Director at the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. "By putting books directly into the hands of young children and their families, we are not only building early literacy skills, but also strengthening family engagement and creating meaningful opportunities for connection, learning, and growth from the very beginning."

Research shows that the Imagination Library of Colorado has a measurable, positive impact on kindergarten readiness across the state. According to a July 2025 report by the Colorado Lab and the University of Denver, enrolled children scored 0.125 standard deviations higher on DIBELS literacy assessments at the start of kindergarten compared to their non-participating peers. Notably, participants were 16–24% less likely to score "well below benchmark," a finding that held steady across diverse demographics, including multilingual learners and low-income families.

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Colorado continues to prioritize early childhood as a critical foundation for lifelong success. Efforts to expand voluntary preschool, strengthen child care affordability programs, and invest in the early childhood workforce work alongside initiatives like the Imagination Library of Colorado to create a more cohesive, accessible, and equitable early childhood system.

Together, these efforts reflect a shared vision that all Colorado children, families, and early childhood professionals are valued, healthy, and thriving. By supporting families early and consistently, Colorado is building stronger communities and expanding opportunities for future generations.

For more information or to enroll a child, please visit the Imagination Library of Colorado.

About Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Founded in 1995, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is the world's leading early childhood book-gifting program. It delivers more than 3 million books each month to children worldwide and has mailed over 280 million free books to date. Learn more at imaginationlibrary.com.

About the Imagination Library of Colorado

The Imagination Library of Colorado (ILCO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and statewide partner of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. With support from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and private donors, ILCO ensures every child in the state can access the program.

About Early Connections Learning Centers

Established in 1897, Early Connections Learning Centers (Early Connections) is the oldest nonprofit early care and learning organization in Colorado. Their mission is to provide high quality, comprehensive early care and education to all children. Serving approximately 300 children each day, ages 6-weeks to 16-years, their classrooms provide year-round support to our community's working families. Early Connections operates three full-day, year-round centers for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers; and before/after school and full-day summer programs for school-age children. In addition to their centers, they partner with a network of family child care homes, the Home Network of the Pikes Peak Region, and operate Court Care of the Pikes Peak Region, a free drop-in center at the El Paso County Courthouse.

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