When you talk, read, and sing with your child—even before she can use words—you’re building her brain and helping to prepare her for success in school and in life. But it may not always be easy to talk to babies, especially when they can’t talk back. To help, we’ve pulled fun tips and resources grounded in the best science, to help you talk, read, and sing with your child every day.

Sign up HERE for emails and follow us on social media for even more information, tips, and resources!

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Dolly Parton Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.

Sign up HERE and your child will receive a free, age-appropriate book every month.

Little Free Libraries

A Little Free Library is a community book exchange box. It belongs to everyone, and everyone is free to use it! The mission statement of Little Free Libraries is “take a book – leave a book.” Visitors are encouraged to take books home to enjoy and leave a book so that another person can enjoy a good read also! All the books are free. Everyone helps to keep Little Free Libraries full!

Cass County Great Start Collaborative Little Free Library Locations are:

  • Cass County Council on Aging 60525 Decatur Rd, Cassopolis Near the Walking Track
  • Brookside School 61662 Dailey Rd, Cassopolis Near the entrance of the school
  • Mason/Union Township Hall 17049 U.S. 12. Edwardsburg
  • Downtown Marcellus Main St Marcellus Located downtown near the pavilion

Local Libraries

Cass District Library Main Branch
319 M-62, Cassopolis
866-808-7323
Mon-Thu 9-7, Fri 9-6, Sat 9-3

Dowagiac District Library
211 Commercial St, Dowagiac
269-782-3826
Mon-Thu 9-7, Fri 9-5, Sat 9-2

Edwardsburg Branch
26745 Church Street, Edwardsburg
269-487-9215
cedfax@cass.lib.mi.us
Mon/Wed/Fri 9-6, Tue/Thu 9-7, Sat 9-1

Marcellus Township Wood Memorial Library
205 East Main Street, Marcellus
269-646-9654

marcellusmichiganlibrary@gmail.com
Mon-Thu 10-7, Fri 10-5, Sat 10-2

Howard Branch
2341 Yankee Street, Niles
269-487-9214
chofax@cass.lib.mi.us
Mon/Wed 10-5, Thu 11-7, Fri 10-5

Local History Branch
145 N Broadway, Cassopolis
269-357-7823