Exploring Literacy Practices of Families Enrolled in the Imagination Library Book Gifting Program

Abstract

Book gifting programs such as Imagination Library aim to foster a love of reading and increase children’s exposure to books and academic success. This study is a conceptual replication of previous studies focused on the Imagination Library program. To examine home literacy practices and caregiver perceptions of the Imagination Library, 149 families enrolled in Imagination Library in a central Texas county completed an online survey. Results indicated that the majority of respondents were extremely satisfied with the program and engaged in daily shared book reading. Though tips for sharing books with children are provided for program participants, the majority of respondents indicated not knowing about the tips. Parental education level significantly predicted daily reading, even when controlling for length of enrollment in the Imagination Library program which was not a significant predictor of daily reading. This study extends the literature on book gifting programs and has implications for book gifting program development and for other communities that implement Imagination Library.