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A child’s first book opens a pathway to imagination, to connection, to a future filled with possibility. Every page you turn together builds your child’s future. You don’t need to be a teacher. You just need a book and a moment.
Imagine a child racing to the mailbox to find a brand-new book with their name on it. For thousands of children across Onslow County, this ritual happens every month — sparking joy, strengthening bonds, and building foundational literacy skills before they ever walk into a classroom.
Through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, children ages birth to five receive a free, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month. No cost. No barriers. Just books that help build imagination, vocabulary, and early learning.
For many families, these are the first books that fill their home. Your support helps make that possible.
Thanks to donors and community partners, all books are provided free to families.
IMAGINATION LIBRARY PARENT & FAMILY RESOURCES
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Across parks and green spaces in Onslow County, families can enjoy Story Walks, outdoor reading trails where pages of a children’s book are posted along a path. Children run, play, and engage with the story as they move.
Our Story Walks are part of the Story Trails of North Carolina.
The locations of the Story Walks are at local Onslow County parks:
That’s the simple idea behind Little Free Libraries — a global network of volunteer-led libraries built to expand book access, inspire readers, and build community.
In Onslow County, One Place supports Little Free Libraries in neighborhoods, community centers, and shared spaces — stocked with books for all ages and open to anyone walking by. We help build, stock, and maintain these libraries so reading stays within reach for every family, especially children who may not have books at home.
Yes! Book donations help keep our libraries stocked. Contact One Place for details or drop books at designated locations.
One hundred and twenty-five thousand books. That’s how many have found their way from Onslow County neighbors, banks, restaurants, realtors, schools, and early learning centers, into the hands of children who needed them most. For more than 20 years, One Place has coordinated that journey.
A gently used book is never just a book. It’s a bedtime ritual, a spark of curiosity, a head start.
Donate books at our drop box at Jacksonville Commons Park and Ride Facility, 100 Recreation Circle, Jacksonville, NC. Want to bring your whole community in? Contact Lisa Davis to host a drive at your business or school.
Free books gifted through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Reading with children long before they start school creates powerful outcomes. Research through Pathways to Grade-Level Reading shows:
But not every child grows up in a home filled with books. Many parents work long hours, face instability, or didn’t grow up with reading themselves. That’s why early literacy programs matter; they bridge gaps, strengthen relationships, and give families simple tools that lead to big change.
Children who are read to develop richer language before kindergarten
Stories build communication skills that shape learning for life
Children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn and connect
Stories build empathy, imagination, and understanding
A love of reading, ignited early, shapes outcomes for decades
Free books gifted through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Reading with children long before they start school creates powerful outcomes. Research through Pathways to Grade-Level Reading shows:
But not every child grows up in a home filled with books. Many parents work long hours, face instability, or didn’t grow up with reading themselves. That’s why early literacy programs matter; they bridge gaps, strengthen relationships, and give families simple tools that lead to big change.
Children who are read to develop richer language before kindergarten
Stories build communication skills that shape learning for life
Children arrive at kindergarten ready to learn and connect
Stories build empathy, imagination, and understanding
A love of reading, ignited early, shapes outcomes for decades
You’re not just giving a book. You’re giving a beginning.
“I never had books growing up. But now my daughter gets one every month, and she brings it to me to read before bed. It’s our favorite time together. Thank you for giving us this.”
— Maria, Onslow County Parent
Any child living in Onslow County from birth to five years old is eligible, at no cost to families.
One new, age-appropriate book is mailed monthly directly to your home, addressed to the child.
No. Thanks to donors and community partners, all books are provided free to families.
Story Walk locations vary across Onslow County parks and community spaces. One Place updates participating locations regularly.
Yes! Book donations help keep our libraries stocked. Contact One Place for details or drop books at designated locations.
No. Early literacy programs are open to all families in Onslow County. Every child benefits from access to books and shared reading experiences.
A book today becomes confidence tomorrow. A bedtime story becomes a lifelong love of learning. And your support helps children take their very first step.
