1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

What is 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten?

The idea is simple: Read to your little ones to better prepare them for one of life's early milestones, kindergarten. 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten encourages the social, emotional, and cognitive development needed for the very young child to succeed in school. Research shows that the more children are read to, the larger their vocabularies become and the more prepared they are to begin school. Reading together also encourages children to recognize reading as an enjoyable and valuable experience and to become lifelong readers. Reading 1,000 books together before the start of kindergarten may seem like a lot, but think of this: If you read just one book together each night, you will have read 365 books in one year. In two years, you will read 730. In three years, you will read 1,095 books!

Who can participate?

Any child from birth until he or she enters kindergarten may participate in the program.

How does the program work?

Register by clicking the button above. All you will need is your child’s name, birth year, and your name and contact information. Stop by the library to pick up your sign up prize.
Read, Read, Read: Select books for your child and read! Check out the suggested reading lists at the bottom of this page, or ask a Youth Services Librarian for recommendations that meet your child's age and interests. We're always adding new books to our collection!
Track Your Reading. You may download the tracker sheets by clicking the button above or simply stop by the Children’s Desk to pick one up. Count all books read to your child toward your total. Is your child attending a storytime? Asking to hear the same book over and over? They all count! For every 100 books you read together, your child will earn a prize and activity sheet. Simply turn your reading tracker sheet in for a prize.

What prizes are available?

For every 100 books you read together, visit the Library to receive a prize! Prizes consist of developmentally appropriate toys, such as finger paint, bubbles, sensory balls, and storytime scarves, and informational handouts full of activity ideas and early literacy tips. After reading 1,000 books, you will receive a tote bag, a button, a certificate of completion and a pencil box. Library staff would love to snap a special photo of your child to share.

Quick Tips for Reading Together

Make reading fun! Reading is meant to be enjoyable and entertaining rather than a chore. Read with expression in your voice, and ask your child lots of questions about the story or pictures as you read together.
Does your child enjoy reading a story together before bed? After lunch? During storytime in the morning? Incorporate reading into a daily routine so that your child anticipates it. In addition, try to find books that reflect your child's interests. Visit the Library so they can choose books about their favorite things. When your child is reading about something they love, it makes reading exciting!
Board books and cloth books are great for babies who like to touch things and put everything in their mouths. Even a very young child can hold books and point at the pictures. Model for your child the way to hold a book and that words are read from left to right. Point to words as you read. Tracking words with your finger on the page as you read shows your child that letters form words and words form sentences.
Children learn letters that are meaningful to them, such as letters found in their names. When reading books, emphasize these letters and connections. For example, pointing to a picture of a cat in your book and saying, "Cat starts with the letter C and so does Catherine!"
It's okay if your child is not in the mood to read together. It's also okay if your child loses interest in a book and you stop during the middle of the story. You can always return to the book, or try a new book later. Remember, the goal is to make reading a positive experience.

1000 Books Train