1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge is a library program that encourages all families and caregivers to read at least 1000 books with their young children before they enter kindergarten. Reading to preschool-age children builds vocabulary and language skills and helps prepare them with the skills they need for kindergarten.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge
FAQs
- Register for the program at the Youth Services desk and pick up your reading log and FREE welcome tote bag.
- Color in one spot on your reading log for each book you and your child read.
- Stop by the Youth Services desk to receive a new reading log, a milestone sticker, and a small prize for every 100 books read.
- Your child will also receive a paper bird with their name on it that will be on our wall display along with all of the other children who are participating in the program.
- After you have completed the program and read 1000 books, your child will receive a picture book, prize bag, and a certificate of completion.
Any child age 5 and under who isn’t in kindergarten can join the 1000 Books challenge.
It’s easier than you think. If you read just three books a day, you’ll reach your goal within one year. But even if you read just one book per day, you’ll reach the goal of 1000 books in three years.
The American Library Association recommends five simple activities caregivers can use to help young children develop language skills:
- Sing to or with a child in any language to help them learn word sounds
- Read (and re-read) to a child to help them learn to love stories and enrich their vocabulary
- Write with a child to help them create and see words and symbols on a page
- Talk with a child to help them learn to communicate and build their vocabulary
- Play with a child to help spark their imagination and use words to express themselves
Sharing books, conversations, and songs with young children builds language skills. This type of sharing contributes to children’s healthy development, develops skills to help them succeed in school, and helps promote a love of reading. Check out the storytime schedule at the library here.