Dolly Parton is the best of us.

Of course her music is an unparalleled gift, but I don’t know if many know about her Imagination Library.

As a children’s court judge I get many cases involving kids in all manner of vulnerable situations. I would sign up all the children to Imagination Library. Dolly sent each child an age-appropriate book every month, and all those kids continue to get a new book, every month.

Sometimes these kids are moving around between shelters or relatives and all they have are some clothes, and these books. We always make sure the books go with them.

It is hard to put into words the gift of the world coming in every month for these kids.

That’s what Dolly Parton chose to do (quietly) with her wealth.

She will be deeply missed, but her mark on the world will live on.