Help your child get ready to read by joining the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge!
The rules of the challenge are simple: just read a book — any book — to your child, with a goal of reading 1,000 books together before they enter kindergarten. Getting through 1,000 books may sound like a tall order, but in reading just one book a night you could finish the challenge in under three years. Even accounting for a night off here and there, there’s still plenty of time to get the challenge done before kindergarten begins!
How will it help?
A large vocabulary and knowledge of the world are critical components of reading success. Reading to your child achieves both of these goals. Young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to; even kids who are read only one book a day will hear about 290,000 more words by age 5 than those who don’t regularly read with a parent or caregiver.
Children who are read to at home are better prepared for school and continue to do well throughout their time in school. It also helps build a lifelong love of books and learning, and is a great way to spend quality time with your child.
How does it work?
Use the link below to register through Beanstack. Use the desktop or the mobile Beanstack app to log each book. Every book counts, every time you read it. Storytime books count too! If you need help getting started, contact the Youth Services department at 757.741.3300, option 4, or email us through the “Contact Us” feature in Beanstack. Get the FAQ here.
We offer rewards throughout the challenge to help celebrate your progress:
At 100 books, you’ll receive a canvas tote bag. Also, at every 100 books, your child can take a picture and ring the celebration gong at the library.
At every 200 books, your child can choose an alphabet duck to take home.
At 500 books, we’ll add a book to our collection in your child’s name.
At 1,000 books, we’ll add another book to our collection in honor of your child.
Each year, just before school starts, we’ll hold a “graduation” to celebrate the families who have completed the challenge during the year.
This month’s featured booklist:
Need more book suggestions? Browse through the lists below for ideas, fill out a Quick Picks form, or chat with a Youth Services librarian.
Click to enlarge and search the catalog.
Click to enlarge and search the catalog.
Click to enlarge and search the catalog.
Click to enlarge and search the catalog.
Click to enlarge and search the catalog.
Click to enlarge and search the catalog.
