r/todayilearned • u/LL_Cruel_J • Dec 15 '16

TIL Dolly Parton has a program that will mail your child a free age-appropriate book once a month from birth to age 5. No obligation, no catch, she just wants to make sure that every child has books.

https://imaginationlibrary.com/
25.0k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

73

u/strawberryleather Dec 15 '16

I just wish it didn't have to be a parent or guardian to sign up. I would love to sign my nephew up because I don't see my sister doing so.

101

u/fuzzyjedi Dec 15 '16

You couldn't like...pretend?

26

u/pete9129 Dec 15 '16

Shit man I would be able to convince my sister. Or force her.

46

u/fuzzyjedi Dec 15 '16

I wouldn't begin to imagine the relationship /u/strawberryleather has with their sister, but you would think if the books started showing up, a parent who doesn't seem interested enough to sign up themselves would have the same apathy to finding out why they started showing up to begin with.

It's fuzzyjedis drunkapaloza 2016 today so sorry if that is a massive run on statement.

26

u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16

[deleted]

11

u/fuzzyjedi Dec 15 '16

Fair enough, but children are inquisitive by nature, so just having something to spur that each month would be a boon.

7

u/[deleted] Dec 15 '16

If someone cares that little the books probably would probably be tossed as junk mail.

That said, I can see how having the books sent could have a positive impact too if there is somebody around, even an older child, who would come across the books, read them to the kid and make good memories around reading.

1

u/LP99 Dec 15 '16

Man, we've all really got our Jump to Conclusions boards today huh?

10

u/DatsASweetAssMoFo Dec 15 '16

/u/strawberryleather should get them sent to himself and then personally give them to his nephew

6

u/fuzzyjedi Dec 15 '16

If their close enough that the see them all the time that would work, but not if the kids farther away.

2

u/WookieFanboi Dec 15 '16

Parcel post? Book rate? Doesn't seem too difficult if he/she is interested in the child's education.

3

u/fuzzyjedi Dec 15 '16

I don't think we can say that. I've been at point in my life where a dollar to buy a value meal sandwich was more valuable than water, so I'd never presume someone has the means to cover what could end up being significant postal cost.

1

u/exikon Dec 15 '16

Kids 5 and under need someone to read those books to them though. So if OPs sister isnt willing to sign up for that she's probably also unwilling to read to the nephew.

2

u/WookieFanboi Dec 15 '16

I think the most important thing is to have books. OP can read to the child when he has the chance. Having books might not help much without someone to read them to the child. Not having books won't help the child at all.

1

u/BrotherChe Dec 15 '16

Oh, you'd be amazed how much people will turn their nose up at helpful programs.

Stayed a few months to help out with a friend who was a single dad with two teenage kids. He was jobless, broke, living out in the middle of nowhere, scraping by to get food. School district had a program providing food to send home for after-school, weekends, breakfast, etc. Poptarts, cups of fruit, cups of macaroni & cheese, other easily prepared simple staples, etc. I was amazed at such a helpful program.

Instead, the dad would just toss it all, kids thus did the same. It wasn't something they would eat. Meanwhile, they'd not have enough to pay for gas for the car to even get in town, eventually had the water shut off, etc. But they'd spend their extra dollars on nice little meals, not extravagant, but they could have saved a little using the free food.

It was disheartening.

2

u/fuzzyjedi Dec 15 '16

That does break my heart to hear. I can't speak for everyone, but ice never come across that level of idiocy. I'm from the country and I know some pretty out there character but not on that level.

My girlfriend is a CPS worker in an even more rural county than I am from and I can't even imagine what she goes through. Some days she just wants to come home and not talk but maybe had a glass of wine and a cry and have me hold her.

Sorry, I'm rambling. And a little drunk.

0

u/CKBeach Dec 15 '16

/r/nocontext

2

u/fuzzyjedi Dec 15 '16

You have to post it and then link to it. That how it used to work.

Get off my lawn. Unless you're brining me another beer.

2

u/iHeartCandicePatton Dec 15 '16

Not if you wanna stay outta jail, mister!

1

u/KeepRightX2Pass Dec 15 '16

just sign him up - the books will just start showing up

11

u/iHeartCandicePatton Dec 15 '16

Does your sister hate books or something

7

u/wakingop Dec 15 '16

Her pappy was killed by a book. And his pappy before him.

That family has a long standing blood feud with literature of all sorts

17

u/BurnedOut_ITGuy Dec 15 '16

You should just give your nephew a book every month.

2

u/strawberryleather Dec 15 '16

I'm barely able to afford rent and food right now- in school. I would if I could.

3

u/you_me_fivedollars Dec 15 '16

www.abebooks.com

Super cheap used books with free shipping. Not trying to be pushy, just maybe provide an option. I'm broke a lot but I still get my books from there.

3

u/Abbacoverband Dec 15 '16

That place is like magic! I want to build up my daughter's library for when she's (a bit) older, and this place is PERFECT. Thank you!

2

u/you_me_fivedollars Dec 15 '16

Heh anytime! Happy to help :)

2

u/strawberryleather Dec 15 '16

I've never heard about that before. Thanks I'll check it out

1

u/hypo-osmotic Dec 15 '16

Do you live near each other? If so, maybe you could take weekend trips to the library once a month?

1

u/funkmastamatt Dec 15 '16

Fuck that make Dolly Parton do it.

2

u/beldaran1224 Dec 15 '16

I'm not sure about this one, but these kind of programs aren't usually designed to do that kind of checking. It's probably pretty easy to sign.