Resultados de la búsqueda

Imagination Library Colorado works to support current affiliates and grow new affiliates in new Colorado Counties to ensure all children under 5 have equitable access to books Enroll your child for a FREE book each month For just $31, you can support a Colorado child in your community with monthly Imagination Library books for an entire year. Your support helps young learners grow up with strong early literacy skills and the confidence they need to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. Since the creation of Colorado’s statewide Imagination Library program in 2020, every locally raised dollar is matched by the state, doubling the impact of each gift. By ensuring families receive high-quality, age-appropriate books at no cost, the Imagination Library of Colorado nurtures a love of reading, strengthens family storytime routines, and builds a culture of literacy for every child in Colorado. Enroll A Child & Donate Enroll A Child 2,802,804 books and counting mailed to Colorado children since 2021. 51,346 five year olds in Colorado have graduated from the Imagination Library. 89,000+ Colorado children receive monthly books from the Imagination Library. 26% of Colorado's zero- to-five year old's population is enrolled in Imagination Library. BY THE NUMBERS Thanks to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) for funding the Imagination Library in Colorado, 50% of books are funded by the state and 50% of the books are funded locally. Getting books into the hands of Colorado's early learners through the Imagination Library of Colorado is made possible with support from the CDEC and local champions.

Fundamentals about reading to your child and why it's important Leyéndole a su hijo ¿Por qué es importante la comunicación del bebé al nacer? Las señales no verbales, como el contacto visual, los arrullos, el llanto y la escucha, son el lenguaje que usa tu bebé para comunicarte sus necesidades, deseos y sentimientos. Cuando los padres responden a los gestos de su bebé, construyen la arquitectura misma de su cerebro, sentando las bases para el desarrollo futuro del lenguaje, la comunicación y las relaciones. La interacción “servir y devolver” moldea el cerebro Solo tienes que sonreír, hablar, cantar, leer, jugar y responderle a tu bebé. Se llama interacción de "dar y devolver". Este proceso de ida y vuelta es fundamental para el desarrollo cerebral, especialmente en los primeros años. Las interacciones de dar y devolver ayudan a los padres a crear un entorno seguro para los bebés, y les ayudan a comprender que están siendo cuidados y comprendidos. ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Leyéndole a su hijo Actividades de lectura de ILCO Guía de actividades de Monstruo en tu libro Guía de actividades "Cómo decimos que te amo" Cachorros de luna llena guía de actividades Ayudante de carpintero guía de actividades Un regalo para Nana guía de actividades Guía de actividades de Monstruo en tu libro Leyéndole a su hijo Actividades de lectura de ILCO El cumpleaños de Dolly hoja para colorear El cumpleaños de Dolly hoja para colorear Primavera hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Julio hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Septiembre hoja para colorear Octubre hoja para colorear Noviembre hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Noviembre hoja para colorear Leyéndole a su hijo El cumpleaños de Dolly hoja para colorear El cumpleaños de Dolly hoja para colorear El cumpleaños de Dolly hoja para colorear Primavera hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear Agosto hoja para colorear

Volunteer with Imagination Library of Colorado Voluntario ¡Estamos encantados de que le gustaría ofrecer su tiempo como voluntario en la Biblioteca de la imaginación de Colorado mientras comenzamos un nuevo capítulo en la alfabetización de la primera infancia! Visite nuestro localizador de bibliotecas de imaginación local en para encontrar a su coordinador local y comuníquese con ellos. ¡Podrán instruirlo sobre cómo puede ayudar en nuestro trabajo en su comunidad local! El registro, la recaudación de fondos y los embajadores de la comunidad son todas formas en las que puede apoyar a los afiliados de Colorado. Estamos muy agradecidos por los defensores de la alfabetización como usted en todo Colorado que están haciendo que nuestro programa sea un éxito.

Donate to Imagination Library of Colorado to help us put more books into the hands of more kids. Regale la lectura Su generosidad garantiza que los niños de Colorado ingresen al kínder listos para tener éxito en el aula y más allá. Con la donación de libros, usted ayuda a sentar las bases para que nuestros bebés estén listos para el kínder.

Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Mapa de matrícula estatal - junio de 2025 Más de 84.000 niños de Colorado reciben un libro cada mes. La primera filial local de Imagination Library se lanzó en Colorado en 2005. Ahora hay 59 organizaciones asociadas sin fines de lucro en todo Colorado. Se han entregado 280 millones de libros y la cifra sigue aumentando a niños pequeños desde 1996. Recibir libros por correo es una forma sencilla y efectiva de generar entusiasmo en torno a los libros. Los niños que participan en DPIL tienen un 30% más de probabilidades de comenzar la escuela preparados para el jardín de infantes. Imagination Library está completamente abierta e inscribe a niños en 61 de los 64 condados de Colorado, enviando libros por correo al 27% de los niños elegibles en todo el estado. El 16% de los libros enviados por correo cada año son totalmente bilingües en inglés y español o tienen Contenido en español. ¡Pronto habrá más contenido en español! The brain is more influenced by experience in a child’s earliest years. The brain’s ability to adapt—known as brain plasticity—declines as we age. Adapted from a graph created by Pat Levitt in collaboration with the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2009). Currently in Colorado classrooms, 60% of 3rd graders are not reading at grade level. Third grade is considered an important milestone in a student’s career in terms of reading proficiency and is correlated to whether a student will graduate from high school. Recent studies show that 85% of a child’s core brain development occurs before the age of three. Additional studies have shown the importance of early reading by connecting greater home reading during the pre-kindergarten year with later development of brain areas supporting mental imagery, narrative comprehension and oral language skills. Additional research indicates the dramatic correlation between the number of books in the home and future academic achievement. Researchers have concluded that children growing up with a home library, even as small as 25 books, achieved 2.4 more years of education than children from bookless homes. Children participating in DPIL are 30% more likely to start school kindergarten-ready. Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Report Highlights: Children enrolled in ILCO scored 0.125 standard deviations higher on the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessment at kindergarten entry compared to non-participants in the same schools. ILCO participants were 16–24% less likely to score “well below benchmark” on DIBELS, reducing the need for costly remedial reading support. Benefits were seen broadly across student groups, with no significant differences for multilingual learners or children from low-income families. This increase is substantial, particularly given the low cost of ILCO implementation. This can set students on a positive reading trajectory and reduce the system, district, and school resources needed to make up early gaps. Authors: Allie Kallmann Wegner , MA, M.Ed., Staff Researcher II, Colorado Evaluation & Action Lab Kristin Klopfenstein , PhD, Executive Director, Colorado Evaluation & Action Lab Phil Pendergast , PhD, Assistant Professor, Western Washington University View Full Evaluation Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales ILCO emails a satisfaction survey to all parents with children enrolled in the program. From this survey, we measure the success of the program by gleaning the number often parents read to their children, how prepared the parent feels the child is for kindergarten, and the impact the Imagination Library program has on the child’s literacy. Parent/Caretaker Survey results from 31 ILCO counties administered between July 2024 through June 2025 Counties include: Adams (Aurora), Arapahoe, Archuleta, Alamosa, Bayfield, Broomfield, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Denver, Dolores, Douglas, Garfield, Jackson, Jefferson, Larimer, Las Animas, Logan, Mineral, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Ouray, Park, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, Summit, Weld. Recipients: 31,720 Responses: 3,943 Response Rate: 12% Download Full Report 64% report “I am reading more often to my child ” 42% report “Other Members of the family read more often to my child ” Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales “Mi niño es pequeño tiene dos años ,no habla mucho y la lectura ayuda con su vocabulario ” - Weld County Parent “Thank you so much for providing books for my child! His enthusiasm and love for books has grown 100 fold and I love that we can go get more books for him to enjoy. He loves other books by the authors that have written the books that he’s received in the mail. It’s been a huge success for our family. ” - Broomfield Parent “I can't thank you enough for this amazing program. Our kids love all the books - they are the centerpiece to evenings and bedtime for our family. ” - Denver Parent “Without this resource I’m not sure I would have books in my home. I love seeing my little one enjoying story time. ” - Routt County Parent "WE LOVE this ----truly we are so beyond grateful for this program. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU " - Larimer County Parent “I love seeing the excitement on her face when she sees that a new book has arrived. That book will then be her ‘favorite’ for the next week or so. ” - Jefferson County Parent “Su vocabulario a tenido un mayor crecimiento además de la pronunciación de palabras a mejorado muchísimo ” - Aurora Parent

Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Each year, the Imagination Library books are selected by the Blue Medal Book team, a group of early literacy experts from across the US dedicated to selecting books that reflect a range of family experiences, so that every child can see themselves reflected in the stories, themes, and concepts. Each month from birth to age five, a child registered in the Imagination Library receives an age-appropriate, high-quality title addressed to the in their name and delivered directly to their mailbox. The Blue Ribbon Book Selection Committee selects ten English titles and two bilingual English/Spanish titles each ye ar. As of August 2025, Colorado families may opt in to receive a bilingual book every month . All children registered in the program will receive these three books: The first book a child receives is “The Little Engine That Could" Dolly Parton's book written by herself, "Coat Of Many Colors" The month a child turns five years old, they will receive “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” American Printing House (APH) selects six titles from the current Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library collection that are most appropriate for children with visual impairment. Children will receive a braille/ print book in the mail at no cost to their family every other month. For more information, please visit: aph.org/braille-tales. The application on this page is required to be completed prior to receiving books. Audio Imagination Library books are also available to children. These books may only be played on a digital playback device loaned from the National Library Service (NLS) or another device approved by the NLS. For more information, please visit: aph.org/imagination-library-collaboration/ . Download the 2026 English Book List Download the 2026 English/ Spanish Bilingual Book List Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales TRABAJAR COMO VOLUNTARIO English Book List TRABAJAR COMO VOLUNTARIO English Book List TRABAJAR COMO VOLUNTARIO English Book List English/ Spanish Book List TRABAJAR COMO VOLUNTARIO English Book List TRABAJAR COMO VOLUNTARIO English Book List TRABAJAR COMO VOLUNTARIO English Book List

If you're interested in starting a local affiliate in your county, learn more about Becoming an Imagination Library affiliate in Colorado. Regale libros a los niños de su condado Pasos para convertirse en afiliado Step 1: Check Availability If you’re interested in starting an affiliate program for the children in your community, first check to see if the Imagination Library is already offered in your community. What do you need to consider to get started? Partnering with a Non-profit (501c3): We mail IL books at special non-profit mailing rates, and a non-profit partner must be involved to qualify for these rates. Registration & Enrollment Plans: How will your organization grow enrollment? The Imagination Library of Colorado staff can help you grow your program sustainably. Funding: You will need to identify financial support to sustainably cover the wholesale cost of the books and mailing. You will need to identify your service area and eligible 0-5 population. How much funding do you need for an Imagination Library program? Decide on the geographical area you think you would like to cover – such as a county, city, school district or zip code(s). The goal of Imagination Library of Colorado, and the State of Colorado is to have one affiliate in each of Colorado’s 64 counties so that all children in Colorado have access to enroll in DPIL Find the 0-5 population from a census website. Try FactFinder Enter the 0-5 population into the Cost Estimator on the DPIL website. (DPIL utilizes the most current Census data) The State of Colorado passed legislation subsidizing the cost of the monthly book invoice at 50%. Common financial supporters/non-profit partner: Service Clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, Junior League, etc.) Friends of the Library Local foundations Local businesses Chambers of Commerce Individual donors School Districts Community Foundation Fiscal Agents Start your own 501c3 Step 2: Putting the Pieces in place Contact the Imagination Library of Colorado staff at @books@ImaginationLibraryColorado.org to discuss your options Talk through service area & cost Work with ILCO and connect with Pam Hunsaker, DPIL Regional Director to complete the DPIL Affiliate Memorandum of Agreement Get the ILCO sample Memorandum of Agreement and New Affiliate Information Sheet – the two documents that we’ll put in place to outline our relationship and capture key information NOTE: all Colorado affiliates must complete a Colorado and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) Memorandum of Agreement Step 3: Build your team Key roles to consider: Chairperson – a person to coordinate the effort Fundraising – to sustainably identify and collect local funds Enrollment – plan where and how to enroll children, oversee registration brochure distribution (if using) and marketing campaigns Database – entering new registrations, accepting pending online registrations, updating addresses, utilizing reports in the Book Order System (BOS) Community Outreach – collaborate with other local organizations and coalitions. Also may collect undeliverable books from your local post office Family Engagement – plans efforts to encourage parents to better engage their children through DPIL books and read more often *TIP – Also consider engaging other community partners to build coalitions and collective impact strategies. Ask your Regional Director for help with ideas and informative docs. Step 4: Fundraising Budget Engage your support team for contacts Consider putting together an advisory council to assist Identify potential funding partners and begin meeting with them *NOTE– At this point you should have a good plan outlined: an idea of the funds you will need, community details/facts and partners who are willing to help – this will all help make your ask more clear and direct. Step 5: Complete and Submit Required Affiliate Documents Return completed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and New Affiliate Information Sheet to Colorado’s Director of Affiliate Relations and the MOA to the DPIL. Affiliate Regional Director Submit USPS form 3623 or 3624 (if non-profit hasn’t already done so) to local post office and return the non-profit authorization code to your Regional Director You'll receive access to the Book Order System to learn the enrollment and mailing process Step 6: Make Final Preparations and Launch! BOOK ORDER SYSTEM LOGIN Receive your Book Order System login information and operations manual. Work with Colorado’s Director of Affiliate Relations to answer any questions and provide support to your organization. The database is not difficult to manage, but does take some time to learn. IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROFILE You will need to update your profile on the BOS portal so that the book return labels are correct, parents can contact you to edit or add registrations. You may include the name of your sponsor on the monthly labels if you choose. (recommended) ENROLL CHILDREN You may now enter registrations into the BOS. Email us to switch to Operating status when you are ready to begin accepting online registrations and start mailing books! WEBSITE Your affiliate information will be able to be accessed via the Imagination Library national website. You aren’t required to create, pay for, host your own website. Please contact ILCO for more information. COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS: Set up a mail chimp account so that your organization can communicate with parents. While you are restricted from ever asking parents for donations, you can communicate program information, community events and resources, or share exciting milestones. LAUNCH Think about planning a launch event to build awareness and excitement. Consider working with ILCO to plan outreach and awareness. RESOURCES FROM DPIL & CO Utilize available resources: Promotional materials available via DPIL & ILCO Grant writing advice, Director of Operations & Grants Colorado’s Director of Affiliate Relations Imagination Library Affiliate Network

Actualización de las noticias Bilingual English/Spanish Book Collection Now Available for Colorado Families! Families who are currently enrolled or plan to register a child for Imagination Library now have another monthly book option for their children; a fully bilingual English/Spanish book collection for registered children to receive until their fifth birthday. More Governor Polis Hands Out Dolly Parton Imagination Library’s Two-Millionth Book in Colorado On March 7, 2025, Governor Jared Polis, Llama Llama (of Red Pajama fame), and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) delivered the 2 millionth book through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at Westwood Early Learning Center. The program, launched by Dolly Parton in 1995 and expanded to Colorado in 2020, mails free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age 5 every month. “Books are our windows into the world, and access to literature for children is a great way to improve reading, and inspire the next generation of poets, authors, and literary geniuses. I am excited to just a year later be delivering the 2 millionth book to Colorado children, thanks to Dolly’s successful Imagination Library initiative,” said Governor Polis. More Governor Polis Hands Out Dolly Parton Imagination Library’s One-Millionth Book in Colorado On February 27, 2024, Governor Polis, joined by Representative Emily Sirota, Senator Jeff Bridges, and Imagination Library CEO Jack Tate, handed out the one-millionth book from Dolly Parton’s Colorado Imagination Library. Launched by Dolly in 1995 and expanded to Colorado in 2020, this universal book-gifting program was created to inspire a love of reading by gifting books to children (0- 5 yrs. old), free of charge through funding shared by local community partners. “Thanks to Dolly, more Colorado kids tumble out of bed, stumble to the kitchen, pour themselves a cup of ambition, and read from 9 to 5! It is important that at a young age, students have access to books to foster their love of reading. I’m thrilled that today I was able to hand out the one-millionth book. This heart-warming program brings so much joy to Colorado’s young readers and helps our kids grow into avid readers and learners. Thanks, Dolly!” said Governor Polis. More Governor Polis Signs New Law, Imagination Library Colorado Moves to CDEC On February 27, 2024, Governor Polis Signed HB24-1205, Colorado Imagination Library Program, sponsored by Representatives Emily Sirota and Rick Taggart, and Senators Rachel Zenzinger and Barbara Kirkmeyer. This bill transfers the operation of the Colorado Imagination Library from the Colorado Department of Education to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and allows the library to partner with eligible non-profits to procure more books and expand the program's reach. More CDEC / ILCO Action Lab Report is Available! ILCO started partnering with the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab (Colorado Lab) in 2022 to evaluate the program. The evaluation focuses on estimating the causal impact of the program using a matched comparison design. The evaluation leverages historical data from parts of the state that have been participating in ILCO since before the pandemic. We invite you to review this September 2023 ILCO report on Early Literacy If you have questions about this informative report, please email us at Books@ImaginationLibraryColorado.org Read Report Here Colorado Kicks Off Statewide Expansion of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library During Family Literacy Month Governor Jared Polis, Education Commissioner Katy Anthes, and the Imagination Library of Colorado joined American icon Dolly Parton to announce the Colorado statewide expansion of her namesake Imagination Library book-gifting program. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books to children (0- 5 yrs. old), free of charge through funding shared by local community partners. "I'm so excited to be working with Governor Polis, the Department of Education, and our Colorado affiliate organization to bring my Imagination Library to more children and families across Colorado! Together we can gift a love of reading that will last a lifetime," said Dolly Parton. "Developing an early love for reading is so important for children’s success, and the Imagination Library shows Colorado’s commitment to making sure that every child and family can succeed,” said Governor Polis. “I’m thrilled that more Colorado children will have access to the books they need to develop a passion for reading and drive their imaginations even further.” During this first year of expansion, the Imagination Library of Colorado will form new partnerships with local community partners and donors throughout the State. Year one is a year of growth: promoting existing programs and getting new affiliates up to speed. We have a handful of established programs across the state and will be adding new affiliates all of the time. Continue to check back here as we expand programs across the state! Would you like to become a community partner ? Click more to watch Governor Polis announce the launch of the statewide program More Governor Polis Proclaims November as Family Literacy Month for Launch of Imagination Library in Colorado The state of Colorado recognizes the Month of November as time for each family to focus on reading and early literacy skills. Click more to view the Proclamation More Imagination Library of Colorado Launches to Provide Books to Kids across The Centennial State Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is launches statewide program to build affiliates in every county. The first year Imagination Library of Colorado will focus on: Partnering with local communities to bring Imagination Library programs to new counties. Our local partners are the heart of the program. They promote the program online and at in-person events, fundraise, and enroll children who live within their geographical area. More Colorado Awards Imagination Library of Colorado Contract Awarded in September of 2021, the contract begins mid October building a statewide network of nonprofits managing Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. The goal is to create an affiliate in every Colorado county and enroll 60% of children birth to 5. For more information, read an article on The Denver Post. More Governor Signs Senate Bill 20-185 On July 10, 2020, Governor Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 20-185 creating the Colorado Imagination Library Program, providing funding to expand the early childhood literacy program. Senators Jack Tate and Jeff Bridges, co-prime sponsors of the Bill, stand behind the Governor at the Arapahoe County Library Sheridan Branch. More Imagination Library of Colorado Receives Tax Exempt Status Imagination Library of Colorado Receives Tax Exempt Status under 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code. More

Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Los libros de Imagination Library son títulos de alta calidad y apropiados para cada edad especialmente seleccionados. Nuestros libros se entregan a los niños registrados cada mes desde el nacimiento hasta el mes de su quinto cumpleaños. Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales 1. Enroll online or fill out a paper enrollment form or to register your child. 2. In 8-12 weeks, your child will receive "The Little Engine That Could" as their first book in the mail at no cost to you. 3. Each month, your child will receive a new book in the mail, compliments of your local county partners and at no cost to your family. 4. When your child turns five, they will receive their final book "Look out Kindergarten, Here I Come!" and become an Imagination Library graduate. Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales

Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Soy un párrafo. Haga clic aquí para agregar su propio texto y editarme. Es fácil. Simplemente haga clic en "Editar texto" o haga doble clic en mí y podrá comenzar a agregar su propio contenido y realizar cambios en la fuente. Soy un gran lugar para que cuentes una historia y dejes que tus usuarios sepan un poco más sobre ti. solicitud de voluntario APLICA HOY Soy un párrafo. Haga clic aquí para agregar su propio texto y editarme. Es fácil. Simplemente haga clic en "Editar texto" o haga doble clic en mí y podrá comenzar a agregar su propio contenido y realizar cambios en la fuente. Soy un gran lugar para que cuentes una historia y dejes que tus usuarios sepan un poco más sobre ti. solicitud de voluntario APLICA HOY Soy un párrafo. Haga clic aquí para agregar su propio texto y editarme. Es fácil. Simplemente haga clic en "Editar texto" o haga doble clic en mí y podrá comenzar a agregar su propio contenido y realizar cambios en la fuente. Soy un gran lugar para que cuentes una historia y dejes que tus usuarios sepan un poco más sobre ti. solicitud de voluntario APLICA HOY Soy un párrafo. Haga clic aquí para agregar su propio texto y editarme. Es fácil. Simplemente haga clic en "Editar texto" o haga doble clic en mí y podrá comenzar a agregar su propio contenido y realizar cambios en la fuente. Soy un gran lugar para que cuentes una historia y dejes que tus usuarios sepan un poco más sobre ti. solicitud de voluntario APLICA HOY

Find out more about the Imagination Library of Colorado staff Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Josephine Metoyer Chair of Board of Directors For over 30 years Jo Metoyer has been a K-12 education advocate, volunteering for and serving those school districts where she raised her 6 children - including over 23 years in Colorado at Cherry Creek School District. Jo’s core beliefs are that education is the foundation of a free society in our country and that every child has the right to access quality education. Learning to read is the core building block of any later education, and the Imagination Library supports this vital activity in a child’s life. After graduating from Wilmington National University with a degree in business management and marketing, Jo works as an account executive for a large global energy savings company supporting school districts, community colleges, and other public entities throughout Colorado driving safe, healthy, sustainable, energy-efficient buildings while supporting Colorado’s decarbonization initiatives. A Chicago native, she has lived in Colorado for 25 years, raised 6 kids in southeast Aurora, and now resides in Severance slightly rural living. Jo loves spending time with family, her fur babies and traveling. Her favorite children’s book is a tie between Love You Forever – by Robert Munsch and If The Shoe Fits – by Alison Jackson. Melissa Osse Board Member Melissa Osse is an experienced government relations executive with 20 years’ experience in working across various government and business industry sectors. She worked on the original Colorado READ Act (HB12-1238) to ensure literacy education for early elementary grade students to master reading and literacy skills necessary to meet at grade level by the time they get to 4th grade. In her current roles as VP of Government Relations for HCA Healthcare, she oversees the development of all state and local legislative priorities, political strategies, and healthcare policy decisions in multiple states for the Continental Division. An active member of her community, Melissa participates in several business and charitable organizations including the Board of Directors for the Food Bank of the Rockies. She lives in Parker with her two sons Cooper and Owen, and dog Jasmine. In her free time, Melissa loves to cook, travel with friends, and spend time with her boys. Her favorite children’s books include Good Night Moon – by Margaret Wise Brown, of which she can recite from memory and the Dragons Love Tacos series by Adam Rubin. Eve Lieberman Board Member Eve Lieberman has nearly 15 years of experience as a senior strategist, policy and legislative expert, and leading teams to success. She currently serves as the Chief Policy Advisor and Legislative Counsel for Governor Jared Polis. In her current capacity, she manages the legislative, policy and federal affairs teams and has overseen many successful Governor early childhood priorities, including the establishment of Imagination Library of Colorado. Eve earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and attended law school at the George Washington University Law School. Eve lives in Denver with her husband and two children - both of whom are huge fans of the Imagination Library books they receive each month. Jim Smallwood Board Member Jim Smallwood is a business consultant and Colorado State Senator, elected in 2016. He represents State Senate District 4 in Douglas County which encompasses the communities of Castle Rock, Larkspur, Parker, Franktown, and Castle Pines. Senator Smallwood is the current chairman of the Legislative Audit Committee, the ranking member and former chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the former vice-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and a former member of the Business Labor and Technology and Appropriations Committees. Prior to being elected, Jim owned and managed several businesses related to employee benefits including an insurance brokerage firm, a third-party benefits administration firm, a COBRA administration firm, and an HR consulting firm. He formerly serviced on the Colorado Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities, along with several councils and advisory panels assembled by state and national insurance companies. Jim and his wife have lived in Douglas County since 1996 and have raised their three sons in Parker. His favorite children’s books are Amelia Bedelia and Dream Snow. Josh Hanfling Board Member Josh Hanfling is a co-founder of Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs. During his 27 years in Denver, Josh has worked with officials and stakeholders in a range of industries, including real estate and construction, telecommunications, technology and software, disruptive businesses, professional sports, retail, financial services, restaurants, private equity, non-profits, and more. His favorite children's book is Llama llama Red Pajama. Jeff Bridges Vice-Chair of Board of Directors Colorado Senator Jeff Bridges represents South Metro Denver, the community where he and his brilliant wife AnnMarie grew up and where they live with their floppy dog Walt. Working across the aisle, Bridges sponsored and passed bipartisan legislation to provide full day Kindergarten to every Colorado kid, guarantee paid sick leave for every working Coloradan, and establish the Middle Income Housing Authority to keep Colorado affordable for nurses, teachers, and firefighters. Before his election to the legislature, Bridges handled military and small business policy as a Legislative Assistant for US Senator Ken Salazar and also ran public affairs for Union Theological Seminary. He earned a bachelor's degree from Kenyon College and a Master of Divinity from Harvard. Bridges currently serves on the Joint Budget Committee and chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. Bridges' favorite book as a kid was the same as Dolly's: The Little Engine That Could. That and the incomparable The Monster at the End of This Book. Spoiler alert: it was Grover the whole time! (Bridges reports feeling true terror during the first read-through, but trusted his mother not to do anything that might actually hurt Grover.) Jenifer Waller Board Member As Chief Executive Officer and President of the Colorado Bankers Association, Jenifer Waller is a champion of banking advocacy. From her long career both at CBA and as a bank examiner for the Colorado Division of Banking, she understands the pivotal role that financial literacy plays in the economic success of our community. Waller gives back to the community through her participation in numerous civic and educational programs, including acting as a trustee for the Graduate School of Banking and her work with the Compliance Alliance. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her sons Joe and Travis and husband Doug. Her favorite children’s book is Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman. A very close second is the Harry Potter series which she read together with her children. Amy Grolnick Board Member Amy is a former language arts teacher who hoped to communicate her love of language and literature to her students. After staying home to raise her three kids for some time, Amy pivoted to her next career in Human Resources where she served as an executive and consultant for high growth, Colorado-based companies. Amy is passionate about the Imagination Library’s mission given her educational background and belief in the power of the written word. Amy holds a BA in English from Wesleyan University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Brown University. In her free time, Amy enjoys playing tennis, running and walking with her dogs and husband, heading to the mountains for skiing and hiking, and of course, reading. Amy’s favorite childhood books were What is Your Favorite Smell My Dear, Charlotte’s Web and all the Nancy Drew mysteries. Danielle Lammon Board Member Danielle is very active in the Aurora, Colorado, community and is an appointed Board Member and Chair for the City of Aurora Citizens Budget Committee and Past President of the Rotary Club of Aurora, where she is the Program Director of Imagination Library Aurora. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Imagination Library Colorado Statewide program to expand equal access to books in the home, promoting early childhood literacy and kindergarten readiness. She is also Chair of the Spina Bifida Association of Colorado and is part of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team and a graduate of Leadership Aurora. Over the last five years, Danielle created and built the only Sensory Garden in Aurora with her leadership team & staff. As part of her work with her Rotary Club, they built the first Inclusive playground in the City of Aurora that serves children with disabilities as well as adults and veterans. Danielle consistently empowers others to make a positive impact in their community. She is a children’s book author and independent publisher as well as a member of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Kristi Widdows Calfee Board Member Kristi Widdows Calfee has been supporting Imagination Library in Colorado for nearly 20 years. Together with her sister, she co-founded and operated Grand Junction Imagination Library from 2007 – 2022. During these years over 9,000 children received over 275,000 books. The program was consolidated into a county wide affiliate in 2023. Her favorite books from the program are Tiger Can’t Sleep and Goodnight Gorilla. Kristi has a bachelor’s degree in Technical Journalism from Colorado State University. She is also on the board of the Douglas County chapter of Young Men’s Service League and has been deeply involved with the Elevation chapter of National Charity League. Ghislaine Bruner Board Member Ghislaine Torres Bruner is an attorney at Polsinelli, focused on assisting clients in developing and implementing effective business strategies, including the anticipation of possible disputes, litigation and plans for early resolution. Bibliotecas de imaginación de afiliados locales Jack Tate President & CEO During his time as a Senator in the Colorado General Assembly, Jack developed a track record of being a champion of success and opportunity for all Coloradans, living up to his campaign theme line of "Chicken in Every Pot, Book on Every Shelf, Fish in Every Stream." In February 2020 as a member of the Colorado Senate in his last session, Jack was a prime sponsor of Senate Bill 20-185 which established a Colorado Imagination Library Program with the Department of Education. With over 20 years of executive leadership experience with organizations large and small, Jack is excited to champion an effort that puts kids on the right path to success from their earliest experiences, understanding that every child dreams of growing up to be the best version of themselves - dreams that often begin in books. Jack’s favorite book as a child was Millions of Cats. He holds an MBA in Marketing and an MS in Finance. Laura Douglas Director of Program Services Laura launched her career in early childhood and informal education and imagined a world where every student was literate. This dream manifests in her work with ILCO. Her imagination continues as she wonders how to bring literacy to every home in Colorado. Her work leading non-profits focuses on public safety and education. As Director of Program Services for ILCO, she serves as a liaison to current and new Colorado Imagination Library local affiliates. Her goal is to provide affiliates support when needed and help grow a strong network of Colorado programs throughout the state. As part of her affiliate support role, she assists with grant writing, educational materials, and program operations. With 20 years of nonprofit and fundraising management, Laura provides a strong background in direct services and community engagement. Laura loves to travel, laugh with her husband and kids, and cheer on the Florida Gators in every sport. Her favorite children’s book is Click Clack Moo Cows That Type. Hannah Dillon Program Coordinator Hannah graduated from MSU Denver in December of 2023, where she found a passion for analyzing and interpreting geographic data. Hannah's core beliefs that everyone should have access to equal opportunities continues to shine as she begins her career in the field of environmental sciences. As a program coordinator, Hannah focuses on funding and enrollment for Morgan County while she works on a mapping project for our website. Growing up in rural Missouri, Hannah's mom was a librarian on a bookmobile that traveled to several communities without access to the public library. Hannah built a strong connection with her imagination through reading as she spent her summer days on the bookmobile. She has too many favorites to remember, but the earliest book she remembers reading is Love You Forever.