1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

Reading with your baby, toddler, or preschooler is one of the best ways to help them become a lifelong reader. Taking part in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program encourages family bonding while your child develops the skills they’ll need to succeed in school. Any child ages birth to five years can participate. 

Did you know that reading to your child is one of the most powerful ways to boost his or her brain power? The simple and enjoyable act of sharing books helps your child learn pre-reading skills such as understanding the sounds letters make, developing a bigger vocabulary, and building background knowledge—all important skills that help prepare your child for learning to read and entering kindergarten

The Goal:

Read 1000 books with your child before they start kindergarten.

That may seem like a big number, but you’ve got plenty of time. If you read one book each day with your child, that’s 1095 books after three years. Reading three books each day will get you to 1095 books in only one year. (And yes, reading a favorite book over and over counts toward your goal!)

Why?

How to Take Part:

Register

To register for the program, create an account for your family on the library’s Beanstack online resource. Be sure to add your child as a reader. When it asks for your child’s grade, choose “Babies and Toddlers” or “Preschool.” Once you have created an account you can register for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge. If you need help registering, our librarians are here to help.

Read

Spend time reading with your child. Books your child reads with siblings, preschool teachers, daycare workers, or at library story times can also help reach the 1000 book goal. Every book counts. Even if your child wants to hear the same book again and again, you can count it each time.

Track Your Reading

Use your Beanstack account to log the books your family reads. You can log the books using the link or download the Beanstack app.

Earn Badges & Prizes

Your child will earn an online badge in Beanstack every time they reach a milestone on the way to their 1000 books goal.

Each time your child reaches a hundred book milestone in their reading log, they’ll earn a prize. After reading all 1000 books, they’ll earn a prize pack and a certificate. Your family can pick up earned prizes from the Children’s Reference Desk.

FAQs

How long will it take to complete the program?

One thousand books may seem like a lot, but if you read just one book a night, you’ll meet your goal in less than 3 years. If you read three books a night, you could reach your goal in just one year!

What books can I read?

You can read ANY books from anywhere, but here are some recommendations from our librarians that link directly to our catalog:

Books for ages 1-2
Books for ages 2-3
Books for ages 3-4
Books for ages 4-5

Through your program registration with Beanstack, you will also have the option of receiving emails with more book recommendations. Or ask our friendly staff for suggestions—we’re here to help you on your journey to 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten!

Can I read the same book again and again?

Yes! Every book that your child hears counts towards this program. This includes books read by siblings, books they hear at story time or daycare, or even the same book over and over. Repetition is great for this age!

Happy Reading!

Questions? Email kids@emmaclark.org