1000 Books Before Kindergarten

The concept is simple, the rewards are priceless. Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to have read 1,000 books before your precious one starts kindergarten. Does it sound hard? Not really if you think about it. If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That’s 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years! If you consider that most children start kindergarten around 5 years old, you have more time thank you think to get started.

To participate in this program with Blackwater Regional Library visit any of our locations to get your first reading log. Once you finish that first log, turn it in and get the next. Continue until you’ve reached 1000! The librarians will even have a special surprise for you when you turn in each log! 

You may also visit 1000 Books Before Kindergarten to print your own reading log if you are unable to visit the library.

FAQ’s

Can we actually read 1000 books before kindergarten?

Yes! 1000 books may sound daunting but by reading only 3 books a day, your child can finish the program in just one year. By reading one book at bedtime every night, your child can finish the program in 3 years. It is never too soon to begin reading to your child and this program is open to children from birth up until kindergarten so you have plenty of time!

Do we have to read books only from Blackwater Regional Library?

No, you can read books from anywhere: your home, the doctor’s office, the dentist’s office, preschool, Grandma’s house, daycare, the bookstore, and other libraries.

I read the same story every night to my child.  Can I count that book on the book log more than once?  

Yes! You may read your favorite books as many times as you like! Just record the title on the reading log provided each time the book is read.

“Reading the same book at least four times every few days allows the child sufficient exposure to words and the story theme to enhance the child’s understanding of the story”. (http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/cellreviews/cellreviews_v5_n5.pdf)

I have more than one child I read to.  Can I count the same title for each child?  

You sure can!  And if one of your older children reads to a sibling, you may count that also.

Our older siblings are reading longer books and we often read along with them. Can 1 chapter of a longer book count as 1 book on the book log?

Absolutely!

Can I count books that are read at Story Time? 

Yes! You may count the books that your child hears from his or her preschool teachers as well.

I sometimes play audio books for my child.  Can I add those to the book log? 

Yes, audio books count too!

What do I do with the reading log once it is full?

Each time your child fills a reading log, return it to the library to receive a certificate and prize!  Your child will also receive the next reading log to continue their journey towards completing the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten journey!