Oregon's First Lady Joins Community Reading Celebration At Multnomah County Central Library (Photo) - 02/05/26

Portland, OR – Multnomah County Central Library, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, and Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Oregon welcomed Oregon's First Lady for an heart-warming community reading event celebrating early childhood literacy on February 5th, 2026. Families gathered for an engaging morning of storytelling to hear "Ten Ways to Hear Snow," written by acclaimed Portland author Cathy Camper and illustrated by Kenard Pak, with enthusiastic young listeners

“It’s so special to gather with children and families to share stories,” said First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson. “Programs like Dolly Parton's Imagination Library remind us that when we put books directly into children's hands, we're giving them tools to become the informed, confident and compassionate Oregonians of tomorrow.”

The Imagination Library program delivers carefully selected, age-appropriate books at no cost to enrolled children from birth through age five, now reaching families in every Oregon county and zip code. The morning included a greeting from the First Lady, an interactive story session, special presentation from author Cathy Camper about her book, songs and crafts, along with opportunities for families to learn about enrolling their children in the complimentary book program.

"Multnomah County Library is thrilled to partner with the First Lady, United Way, and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Oregon to celebrate the joy of reading and the importance of early literacy," said Annie Lewis, Multnomah County Director of Libraries." Hosting this event with a beloved Portland author makes it even more special, showcasing the incredible literary talent in our own community while connecting families to resources that strengthen the foundation for lifelong learning."

"United Way of the Columbia-Willamette is proud to serve as one of the Local Program Partners for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Multnomah County," said Kelly O’Lague, President and CEO, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. "Early literacy is a critical building block for children's success, and this program removes barriers by delivering free, high-quality books directly to families' homes. Events like this remind us of the magic that happens when we invest in our youngest learners."

"As a Portland author, I'm deeply honored to be part of this celebration of early literacy and the Imagination Library's incredible work in our community," said Cathy Camper. "Books like “Ten Ways to Hear Snow” open windows to new worlds and help children see themselves and others in beautiful, meaningful ways. Seeing the partnership between The Governor’s office, The Imagination Library, local program partners and public libraries, gives me hope for the next generation of readers and storytellers."

"The Imagination Library creates more than book deliveries - it builds precious connections between children and their families around the magic of storytelling”, said Kaylee Chrystal, Community Engagement Coordinator for Imagination Library of Oregon. We're deeply appreciative of the First Lady's participation, United Way's partnership as our Local Program Partner, Multnomah County Library's commitment to literacy, and Cathy Camper's generous spirit in sharing her work with young readers."

The program currently serves more than 73,000 Oregon children - representing approximately 34% of the state's children under five years old -who receive monthly book deliveries through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, in every zip code in Oregon. Families pay nothing for participation, with program expenses supported through collaborative funding from local community partners, The Dollywood Foundation, and the State of Oregon via the Department of Early Learning and Care.

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About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has gifted over 300 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland. This is achieved through funding shared by The Dollywood Foundation and Local Community Partners.  The Imagination Library mails more than 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five - at no cost to families.  Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to Dream More, Learn More, Care More and Be More(™).

The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit imaginationlibrary.com.