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1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Growing Strong Readers: 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is an early literacy program offered by the Library to promote reading to children from birth to age five.

Answers to Questions

What is it and what is its purpose?

This free program encourages you to read 1,000 books with your child before he or she enters school. Reading together helps develop important pre-reading skills providing a solid foundation for school and learning success.

Who is it for?

The program is designed for families and caregivers with children birth through age 6 or before entering Kindergarten.

How can one participate?

Create an account online and start logging books. 

How does it work?

You keep track of the books read using the online program and your child can color in a symbol on the printed journal paper. Download and print the journal or stop by the library to pick one up in the children's room.

Can I really read 1000 books to my child before kindergarten?

If you read only one bedtime story every night for three years you will have read 1,095 books!
10 books per week = 1,040 in 2 years!

How do I log books?

You need to keep track of the books read online. Login with your username and password. Then, log in your books in the upper left-hand corner of your screen where it says “Log Reading and Activities.”

What Books Count?

Books read at Story Time if you attend. Books may be read more than once and counted more than once. Books from home, libraries, a doctor’s office, preschool, at Grandma’s house, etc., anywhere. Books on CD, a story on a computer game, and e-books as long as they listen to the whole story. Books read by any family member, teacher, friend, etc. as long as they listen to the whole story.

How long will the program last?

The program is self-paced and it will depend on how often you read to your child. It is not something to rush.

What is the benefit and why is it important to read to very young children?

Developing literacy skills begins at birth and continues throughout the toddler and pre-school years. The best way to ensure a child has the skills necessary to learn to read is having someone read aloud to them.

How long has it been going on?

The Growing Strong Readers: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program started September 1, 2017.

Why are we doing it?

Our goals are to introduce a fun method for families and caregivers to read aloud to their children, promoting pre-literacy skills so children enter school ready to learn, encourage regular library use and instill a love of reading!