Dolly Parton, the renowned "9 to 5" singer at 78 years old, is making a heartwarming gesture in her latest children's book. In "Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas", her main character faces a tough choice that many stars encounter during the holiday season - whether to perform at the "Barkafeller Center" or return home to celebrate with family. She shares with PEOPLE, "Performers often have the dilemma of choosing between going on the road for work or taking shows for money. Many artists get lucrative offers during the holiday season, but for the love of family and to maintain family traditions, being home for Christmas is always a priority."

Dolly Parton's Holiday Tale: Billy's Dilemma and Family Love

Holiday Season Dilemma Faced by Stars

Dolly Parton reveals that while she herself has always been home for Christmas, she wants to take readers on a journey with Billy as he figures out his own decision. Billy gets a big offer to work at the Barcafeller Center but has already promised to be home for Christmas. There is a fun story that details his adventures in between making this tough choice. "In this one, you get to see a lot of the scenery out on the road and that sort of thing. It's opened up a whole new world for me," she says.

Integration of Music in the Book

Just like her previous books, this 11-time Grammy winner has integrated her music. "Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas" is inspired by her song "Comin' Home for Christmas". All the books are based on songs, mostly children's songs, but this one is for grown-ups. Yet, kids and adults alike love these books. "It's perfect," Parton shares.

Dolly Parton's Commitment to Literacy

Parton, a passionate reader herself, has long been a champion of children's literacy. She founded Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in 1995, sending free books each month to children from birth to age 5, regardless of household income. The "love for books and a love for reading" is infused in each Billy the Kid entry. "These are little books that kids can hold in their lap, look at the pictures, and feel like it's their own because they get it in the mail with their own name. It's important to make children happy, and these little books have some great messages too," she says.Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Comes Home for Christmas by Dolly Parton and Erica S. Perl, illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, is available now wherever books are sold.