Ready. Set. READ!
Not only could I not afford to get this many books, it has also opened up so many subjects and books I probably wouldn’t have bought for her myself. She loves the books, and each new book is the favourite for a while and gets read at least once a day. I feel very blessed to be part of the program.
— Ready. Set. READ! Program Parent
Every child deserves the chance to grow up surrounded by books, stories, and the joy of reading. That’s why Edmonton Public Library, in partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, is proud to offer Ready. Set. READ!, a program dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading by gifting FREE books to children from birth to age five.
Ready. Set. READ! helps children build a strong foundation for literacy by delivering high-quality, age-appropriate books straight to their homes every month. Studies show that children growing up in homes with books receive three years more schooling than those without, regardless of their parents' education or occupation.
In 2025, EPL mailed 56,976 books to 4,917 children.
By giving to Ready. Set. READ!, you help close the literacy gap and open doors to brighter futures for thousands of kids.