Week of September 11, 2020

We dedicate this Pick of the Week to all the little ones in the family, hungry for storytime and fun songs. In 2018 the Library of Congress partnered with singer and songwriter Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Program. This organization mails free books to young children in many countries worldwide. Our partnership brought storytime and fun songs to the tiniest patrons of the Library of Congress. In this edition, we feature the presentation and reading of Dolly Parton's book, Coat of Many Colors. As well as two related programs, LLama LLama, read by Thea Austen from the National Folklife Center, and The Little Engine that Could, read by Melissa Wertheimer, from the Music Division. Let's get started!

Pick of the Week - September 11, 2020: Imagination Library

Dolly Parton's Book Presentation: Coat of Many Colors (event date: February 27, 2018)

Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton joined Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden to present the 100 millionth book in Parton's "Imagination Library" program, donated to the Library of Congress. The program featured a book reading for school children and the announcement of a new literacy collaboration between Parton and the Library of Congress.

Imagination Library Story Time: Llama Llama (event date: May 25, 2018)

For children under five, this program features two books, Llama Llama Red Pajama and Llama Llama and the Bully Goat, written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney. The stories are read by Thea Austen, from the American Folk Center. This program was a collaboration between the Library of Congress and Dolly Parton's "Imagination Library."

Imagination Library Story Time: The Little Engine That Could (event date: July 27, 2018)

For children under five, this program features The Little Engine That Could, written by Watty Piper, and illustrated by George and Doris Hauman. Music Division librarian Melissa Wertheimer reads the book with the help of her flute, which adds special sound effects! This program was a collaboration between the Library of Congress and Dolly Parton's "Imagination Library."

Digital Collections and Resources at the Library of Congress

Dolly Parton and the Roots of Country Music (Digital Presentation)
This presentation explores the influences of country music on Dolly's life and career. Though sometimes overshadowed by the more glamorous aspects of Dolly Parton's popular image, traditional Appalachian folk, country, and bluegrass music have played an important role in her life, to a much greater extent than one might imagine from looking at the bulk of her career.
Story Time with Music (Blog Post)
Music Division Melissa Wertheimer writes about her experience reading the children's book The Little Engine That Could as part of Dolly Parton's Imaginary Library program. (In the Muse: Performing Arts Blog, August 1, 2018)
Library of Congress Young Reader Center (Program Website)
In the Young Readers Center, children, teens, and their families are invited to read together and to participate in hands-on activities related to the Library of Congress and its collections.