Many picture books all stacked vertically together on a shelf

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

We want to help every child become a reader by encouraging you to read 1000 books to your child before they enter kindergarten. You'll even get a free book when you sign up!

Program Overview

The concept is simple, the rewards are priceless! Read a book (any book) to your infant, toddler, and/or preschooler. Any book read (including repeats!) by anybody counts. The goal is to have read 1000 books by the time your little one starts Kindergarten.

Learning to read starts way before Kindergarten. Print and sound awareness, print recognition, and vocabulary all come from listening to their parents and other talk and read to them.

Reading together is fun and will create life-long memories for both of you. What a great way to bond: with your child curled up with you while you read together.

Although 1000 books sounds like a huge number, consider this:

  • If you read just one book a day, you will have read 365 books in a year and you could finish in less than three years.
  • Read 10 books per week? Less than two years.
  • Three books a day? Less than a year!
How to Participate:

Sign up and read with your child. Studies have shown that reading with your child provides a great opportunity for bonding. Reading together is fun and will create life-long memories for the both of you. 

Keep track of the books that you read with your child. You can even make a record of what you're reading in a spiral notebook, or by whatever method you want. The journal itself can make a great keepsake item for your child.

If you are able to, make sure to keep a record of “any” book that is being read to your child. This includes teachers and siblings.

FAQs:

Who can participate in this program?  Any child from birth until they enter kindergarten can participate. 

How long will the program take? It will take anywhere from a few months to a few years. The program is self-paced and will depend on how often you read together.

How many of my children can participate?  All of them (provided they have not yet started kindergarten). Make it even more fun and read as a family!

Want some ideas for what to read? Each of the checklist pages below come with a list a fun books to try. You can also ask Library staff members for recommendations.

 

Download these pages that you'll fill out to keep track of your reading. Bring in each filled out check sheet when you finish!

1000 Books Before Kindergarten® is a registered trademark of the 1000 Books Foundation, used with permission (1000 Books Before Kindergarten official website)