Dolly Parton is reading children's books at bedtime

By Carson Blackwelder

Video by Brittany Berkowitz

Who better to read bedtime stories to children -- or you -- than the one and only Dolly Parton?

The country music legend is launching “Goodnight With Dolly,” a series in which she will read kids’ books which were all given the stamp of approval by her Imagination Library program. These readings will take place on social media once a week for the next 10 weeks, scheduled every Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET.

“This is something I have been wanting to do for quite a while, but the timing never felt quite right,” the “Jolene” singer said in a statement. “I think it is pretty clear that now is the time to share a story and to share some love.”

“It is an honor for me to share the incredible talent of these authors and illustrators,” she added. “They make us smile, they make us laugh and they make us think.”

The books included are:

- “There’s a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake” by Loren Long

- “Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney

- “I Am a Rainbow” by Dolly Parton

- “Pass It On” by Sophy Henn

- “Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon” by Patty Lovell

- “Violet the Pilot” by Steve Breen

- “Max & The Tag-Along Moon” by Floyd Cooper

- “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña

- “Coat of Many Colors” by Dolly Parton

- “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper

Parton also announced that the documentary “The Library That Dolly Built,” initially set for a limited release on April 2, has been rescheduled for a nationwide release the week of September 21.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Parton founding the Imagination Library. To this day, the program has put more than 135 million books in the hands of young readers around the world.