1000 Books Before Kindergarten

What is it?

The concept is simple; the rewards are priceless. Recognizing that during the critical early years, parents and caregivers are a child’s first teacher, the goal of 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is to provide families with a simple, fun approach to establishing strong early literacy skills while promoting parent-child bonding. The challenge is simple: read books to your child, with the goal of reading 1000 before Kindergarten. That seems like way too many, right? Not at all! Even one book a day for three years will get you to 1095, well past your goal. Whether your child is three, or just 3 months, there’s no better time to start than now!

How to Start

• Register and receive a log book in person at the Children’s Library, or online by clicking here. If registering online, come to the Children’s Library any time after registering and we’ll issue you a log book.
• Begin reading to your child. Any time you sit and enjoy a book with your child, including re-reads, it counts! What can you read?

Board books   Articles   Chapter books
Baby books   Wordless books   eBooks
Picture books   Graphic novels   Poems
Magazines   Comic books   Audiobooks

• Use the log book to record the number of books read with your child. Use the stickers included in the book to track milestones (every 10 books, every 100 books, and more).
• Enjoy the numerous bonus activities in the log book according to your child’s interest and time.

That’s it! Still not sure? Read on!

Benefits

• Reading builds social and emotional skills. Books give kids language to express their feelings and improve empathy for others.
• Reading fosters happiness. Children most engaged with reading are 3 times as likely to have high levels of mental well-being. Just 6 minutes of reading can calm kids down, reducing stress by 68%.
• Reading sparks creativity and imagination. Books are windows that open to new worlds. They inspire creativity and stretch kids’ notions of what is possible.
• Reading with your child helps build their vocabulary and their brain. Children engaged in reading 20 minutes a day take in 1.8 million words per year. Reading aloud boosts cognitive development at an age when your child’s brain is growing rapidly.
• Being read to improves reading comprehension and internal motivation to read.
• Reading to your child leads to higher rates of future academic success.
• Reading together bonds you. Cuddling close while immersed in a book is a uniquely powerful connection.

Tips

• Make it fun! Avoid reading in monotone; change your voice and make sound effects!
• Ask a lot of questions and talk about the book as you read.
• Hold your child on your lap. Perhaps incorporate a favorite toy or blanket.
• Create a reading time routine so your child will learn to look forward to your special time together.
• Choose books that interest and excite your child!
• It’s okay to read the same books over again and again! You can repeat titles as many times as your child wishes, and each re-read counts! Repetition helps children learn!
• Use your 1000 Books log book to track progress, add stickers, record favorite titles, and more!
• Always carry a book or two with you! Read with your child anytime, anywhere!