Free Books for Children Open the Door to Learning
Before the family had even finished taking a photo, Lena’s youngest son had his own plans.
During their first visit to the Columbus Public Library, the two-year-old was eager to head straight to the children’s department. While the adults paused for a quick picture, he insisted on finding more books to explore.
For Lena, it was a moment that perfectly captured what reading has become in their home.
As a funded Community Investment partner of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, Chattahoochee Valley Imagination Library provides free, age-appropriate books each month to children from birth to age five, helping families build strong literacy skills from an early age.
Lena says the program has turned her four-year-old son into a voracious reader. Every new book brings excitement, opportunities to learn, and time spent reading together as a family. She hopes her youngest son will develop that same love of books as he grows, while her nine-year-old daughter continues to enjoy reading alongside her younger brothers.
Reading Together Creates Lasting Memories
For Lena, the greatest gift of the Imagination Library isn’t simply receiving books in the mail. It’s watching her children become genuinely excited about reading.
She appreciates the quality and variety of each month’s selections, knowing every story introduces new ideas, new vocabulary, and new opportunities for conversation.
Their visit to the library reflected that growing curiosity. As soon as the children spotted the shelves filled with books, they couldn’t wait to start exploring.
By the end of the visit, they were already searching for the next story to bring home.
For Lena, moments like these are a reminder that a lifelong love of reading begins with something as simple as opening a book together.
Strong Communities Are Built Together
Behind every impact story is a network of people and organizations working together to create lasting change.
As a funded Community Investment partner, Chattahoochee Valley Imagination Library provides free, high-quality books each month to young children, helping families build early literacy skills and foster a lifelong love of reading.
United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley invests in trusted nonprofit partners with proven results because lasting change happens when we strengthen the organizations already making a difference every day.
When you support United Way, your investment stays local, helping ensure children across the Chattahoochee Valley have access to books, opportunities to learn, and the foundation they need for lifelong success.
