World · Upworthy
Dolly Parton’s Book Program Brings Music to Autistic Girl
After Dolly Parton’s death, her philanthropic legacy was highlighted when a mother shared how the singer’s Imagination Library program helped her autistic daughter re‑discover music. The family had lived in silence because the child could not tolerate background noise. A copy of Parton’s illustrated book, *Coat of Many Colors*, arrived through the library and sparked the daughter’s curiosity. The mother read the story, explained its musical roots, and the girl eventually asked to hear the song. When the mother played the track, the child loved it and began requesting more of Parton’s catalog. Over time she learned to use a music streaming app and now curates playlists for every mood, all featuring Dolly’s songs. The story illustrates how the library’s free book‑gifting initiative, launched in 1995, has reached over 250 million children worldwide, providing both literacy and, in this case, a newfound joy of music.
Read the brief →