MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Families across Rutherford and Cannon counties are invited to step inside the pages of their favorite children’s books next month as United Way of South Central Tennessee hosts its seventh annual Storybook Breakfast. The event, presented by MMC Pediatrics, will take place Saturday, March 7, at Overall Creek Elementary School, with three sessions offered at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11 a.m.
Designed as a family-friendly experience, the Storybook Breakfast will feature breakfast, crafts, photo opportunities and story time, along with appearances by beloved children’s characters including Pete the Cat, Llama Llama, Esteban the Crayon, Bluey and Bingo, Piggie and Elephant, and Dinosaur from “How Do Dinosaurs?”
Proceeds from the event will directly support United Way’s efforts to strengthen kindergarten readiness throughout the region. United Way of South Central Tennessee serves as the local sustaining partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, providing books each month to nearly 17,000 children from birth to age 5 in Rutherford and Cannon counties. Although families receive the books at no cost, the organization funds the books and mailing expenses locally.
Recent global research underscores the impact of early shared reading. A 2025 study led by Dr. Claire Galea of Macquarie University — the largest-ever study of shared book reading — analyzed data from more than 86,000 caregivers across five countries. The findings show children enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library are read to more frequently, demonstrate stronger expressive vocabulary, and show greater engagement during shared reading compared to children not enrolled in the program.
“Research confirms what we see every day in our community: when children have books at home and adults read with them consistently, their literacy skills and confidence grow,” said Kristen Swann, president and CEO of United Way of South Central Tennessee. “Nearly 17,000 children in Rutherford and Cannon counties receive books each month because this community chooses to invest in them. The Storybook Breakfast helps ensure we can continue providing that opportunity to every child, regardless of family income.”
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, was created more than 30 years ago in honor of Parton’s father, who could not read or write. Today, the international program mails more than 3 million free, high-quality books each month directly to children’s homes, with each enrolled child receiving one book per month from birth to age 5 at no cost to families.
Tickets for the Storybook Breakfast are $15 per person, with a $60 household maximum, and may be purchased online. Proceeds will benefit Imagination Library recipients in Rutherford and Cannon counties.
- CLICK HERE to Purchase Tickets for the Storybook Breakfast!
