IMAGINATION LIBRARY
FAMILY RESOURCES
LIBRARIES & EVENTS
LITERACY TASKFORCE
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A Community United Around Reading
Literacy is the foundation for opportunity, confidence, and lifelong success. In Grant County, too many children begin school already behind, which is why United Way of Grant County believes reading must be a shared community effort, not just a classroom responsibility. Grant County Reads brings together families, educators, and local partners to create joyful, accessible reading experiences that strengthen early learning and help every child grow into a confident reader.
FREE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5!
Through our partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, we invite children up to age 5 to join a magical journey filled with wonder, learning, and discovery. Each month, your little one will receive a carefully selected, age-appropriate book delivered straight to your doorstep, at no cost to you. These treasured tales will create lasting memories and inspire a lifelong passion for reading.
Registering your child for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is easy and absolutely FREE. Just visit the link below!
MAKE READING FUN!
Reading should be joyful, playful, and part of everyday life! These fun, family-friendly resources are designed for kids, caregivers, and teachers, offering stories, games, and tools that make reading engaging at home, in the classroom, and throughout the community.
Grant County Video Library
Grant County Video Library
The Grant County Reads Video Library features children’s books read aloud by local Grant County friends, and was created by Marion Community Schools, the Community Foundation, and Lark’s Song.
Storyline Online
Storyline Online
Storyline Online is a free online library that features popular books read by celebrities including Betty White and James Earl Jones to name a few. New books are added regularly and it’s funded by the Screen Actors Guild.
TumbleBooks
TumbleBooks
TumbleBooks is a free, kid-friendly digital library with animated stories and read-along books that build early literacy skills, made available to our community through the Marion Public Library.
PBS Kids Games
PBS Kids Games
PBS Kids has an entire section dedicated to reading and language skills, featuring familiar characters like Elmo, Daniel Tiger, and Curious George. Games are play-based, age-appropriate, and sneak learning in without kids noticing.
Additional RESOURCES FOR Parents
Reading should be joyful, playful, and part of everyday life! These fun, family-friendly resources are designed for kids, caregivers, and teachers, offering stories, games, and tools that make reading engaging at home, in the classroom, and throughout the community.
Reading Rockets
One of the gold standards for parent literacy resources. Clear, practical advice on reading aloud, phonics, fluency, comprehension, and helping struggling readers. Excellent age-based guides and videos.
Reach out and Read
Built around early childhood and brain development, often shared through pediatricians. Strong guidance for parents of babies and toddlers, with simple tips that feel doable.
Center for Improving Literacy
This Center for Improving Literacy offers research-based guidance and practical tools to help families support their child’s reading at home. It provides clear, trustworthy information and simple strategies parents can use in everyday routines.
Local Libraries: A World at Your Fingertips!
Local libraries provide free access to books, events, and programs that support learning and a lifelong love of reading, all at no cost to families. Their knowledgeable, welcoming staff are an invaluable resource, helping connect families to books, activities, and literacy support that meet their unique needs.
Little Free Libraries
Did you know that Grant County has over 40 Little Free Libraries! These neighborhood exchanges of free books are for all ages – thanks in large part to a generous donation from the Community Foundation of Grant County. These small but powerful book-sharing spaces help place stories directly into neighborhoods, making reading accessible anytime and anywhere.
The official Little Free Library website features locations for all of these libraries, along with a handy mobile app that allows families to find nearby boxes, get directions, track visits, and discover new places to read throughout the community.
Marion Public Library
Jonesboro Public Library
Gas City Public Library
Swayzee Community Library
Van Buren Public Library
Fairmount Public Library
Upland Public Library
GRANT COUNTY LITERACY TASKFORCE
The Grant County Literacy Taskforce is a powerful collaboration bringing together educators, nonprofit leaders, and community partners from across Grant County to collectively address local literacy needs. By aligning expertise, sharing data, and working together on community-wide initiatives, the taskforce represents an important step forward in strengthening early learning and reading outcomes for children.
If you would like to learn more or get involved with the Taskforce, reach out to Kayla Johnson at kayla@uwgrant.com.
SUPPORT THE WORK. CHANGE A CHILD’S STORY.
Your support of United Way of Grant County helps make initiatives like Grant County Reads possible while also strengthening programs that address education, financial stability, health, and basic needs across our community. When you give, you are investing in local solutions, local partnerships, and lasting change for families right here in Grant County.
