About the Program
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their children. By reading just one book a night, families can reach the 1,000-book goal in three years while providing children essential early literacy skills.
Research shows that the most reliable predictor of school success is being read to during early childhood. Reading to children from an early age can help close the vocabulary gap and prepare children to enter Kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed. Most importantly, sharing books with children promotes a lifelong love of books and reading. It is also a great way for children and their caregivers to bond!
Registration is ongoing. Children may finish the program anytime before beginning Kindergarten.
Getting Started
Each child receives a reusable book bag upon registration. Small prizes are earned along the way!
Each bubble on the reading log equals one book title read.
Children may participate in the program only once; they may only begin the program at one branch.
Finished reading logs may be turned in at any branch regardless of where the child registered.
Families can use our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge on our READsquared website or download the free READsquared app (see below), in addition to using our printable logs or their own paper.
If you've already started using the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten free app, you may continue doing so, or branch staff can help you transition your progress into READsquared.
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ALREADY REGISTERED AT YOUR LIBRARY? PRINT ADDITIONAL LOGS HERE.
FAQs
Any child from birth until he or she enters kindergarten can participate in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program.
The program will take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The program is self-paced and how long it takes to finish will depend on how often you read together.
YES, children learn best through repetition and love to hear their favorite stories repeatedly. You may count the same title every time you read the book!
YES, log them on each child’s sheet.
All of them (provided they have not yet started kindergarten). Make it even more fun and read as a family!
YES!
YES!
No, we ask that families and caregivers sign children up in person either at a library branch or on the Bookmobile.
YES, it is OK to “double dip” on logs.