08/31/2026
As we remember the life and legacy of Dolly Parton, we’re also celebrating one of the lasting gifts she gave to children around the world: a love of reading.
Inspired by her father, who was unable to read and write, Dolly created Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 1995 with a simple vision, to put books into the hands of children and help them dream big. What began in her home community has grown into a global program, bringing books to young readers every month.
Little Buffalo Reader brings that same vision to Métis children across Saskatchewan. As part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the program connects her commitment to childhood literacy with the importance of Métis children having access to books, stories and representation from their earliest years.
Since 2022, more than 33,000 children’s books have been distributed to Métis children across Saskatchewan, with 1,087 children currently enrolled.
Through the program, Métis children from birth to age five receive a free, age-appropriate book every month, mailed directly to their home in their own name.
Dolly’s impact reminds us that sometimes a single book can be the beginning of something much bigger, a love of learning, a family tradition of reading, or a child’s first step toward a dream.
We’re proud to carry that spirit forward for Métis children and families across Saskatchewan.