Royal Greenwich has joined Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, so any child under five living in the borough can now be sent a free book every month until their fifth birthday. Families in Blackheath Standard, Westcombe Park and Kidbrooke register online, and the books arrive at home at no cost.
The council is running the scheme with the Dollywood Foundation and People's Postcode Lottery. It says the titles are chosen by early years and literacy experts and matched to each stage of a child's development.
Anyone with a toddler at home should sign up: it costs nothing and the books come to the door. The scheme is for Greenwich residents, so families on the Lewisham side of the heath, around the Village, are not covered by it, and the question for Lewisham Council is what it offers them instead.
- Royal Greenwich has joined Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and children under five in the borough can now receive a free book every month.
- Eligible children receive one free book a month until their fifth birthday, open to children under five living in the borough.
- Families register online and books are delivered to homes at no cost.
- The council is working with the Dollywood Foundation and People's Postcode Lottery.
- Books are selected by early years and literacy experts and tailored to each stage of development.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 5 November 2026.
- www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/news/2026/royal-greenwich-joins-dolly-partons-global-b (council announcement)
Claim by claim (5 facts, 2 editorial judgements)
- Royal Greenwich has joined Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and children under five in the borough can now receive a free book every month. — council announcement, 2026-11-04“Children under five across Royal Greenwich are now able to receive a free book every month through a new partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.”
- Eligible children receive one free book a month until their fifth birthday, open to children under five living in the borough. — council announcement, 2026-11-04“Eligible children will receive one free book every month until their fifth birthday.”
- Families register online and books are delivered to homes at no cost. — council announcement, 2026-11-04“Families living in Royal Greenwich with a child under five can register for the programme online.”
- The council is working with the Dollywood Foundation and People's Postcode Lottery. — council announcement, 2026-11-04“Working in partnership with the Dollywood Foundation and People's Postcode Lottery”
- Books are selected by early years and literacy experts and tailored to each stage of development. — council announcement, 2026-11-04“The books are carefully selected by early years and literacy experts and are tailored to each stage of a child's development”
- Judgement: Anyone with a young child in the borough should sign up, since it is free.
- Judgement: Lewisham-side families are not covered by this scheme, and the question is whether Lewisham will follow.