Can YOU read 1,000 books before Kindergarten? We know you can! 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is our new early literary initiative designed to jump start skills and begin a lifetime of learning and fun!
The concept is simple: read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, toddler, and/or preschooler. The goal is to have read 1,000 books (you can repeat books!) before your child starts kindergarten. If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year, 730 books in two years, and 1,095 in 3 years. The key is perseverance! At home and at the library, you can celebrate the milestones you reach to keep the process exciting.
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. As well, reading together will establish strong early literacy skills and give children the confidence to eventually become successful readers. We hope you will participate with us!
How the program works:
- Sign-up in the Children’s Room at this link and we’ll give you a special folder to keep track of your progress.
- Use our log to keep track of how many books you have read.
- You can count books read during a storytime at the library, or any book that is being read to your child. Join us for one of our weekly storytimes!
- And remember: you can repeat books!
- Come in to the library every time you reach another 100 books, so we can recognize and reward your progress. After you read your first 100 books we will take a picture of your child and put it on our Reading Hall of Fame. For each 100 books you read your child will earn a milestone sticker (100/200/300 etc. for their picture). After you’ve gotten to the 500 mark you will receive a NH Read 1000 Books Before Kindergarten tote bag and a gift certificate for the next Friends of the Lane Memorial Library Book and Media Sale for 10 free children’s books. When you’ve read 1,000 your child will receive a fun t-shirt to let everyone know that you’ve finished our great early literacy challenge as well as other prizes (to be announced).
Logs
How long does it take?
1,000 is not such a big number!
3 books a day for 1 year = 1,095 books
1 book a day for 3 years = 1,095 books
Early Literacy Suggestions
Have fun! Use different voices, motions, facial expressions, and props (toys, stuffed animals) to bring the story to life.
Snuggle up! Hold your child in your lap or next to you. Include a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or other comfort item.
Talk about it! Point out things in the pictures. Ask your toddler questions about the pictures and story. Share stories about yourself.
Stay flexible! It’s ok to skip pages, read back to front, just look at the pictures, or not finish a book. You can also read aloud while your child plays with other toys.
Be prepared! Keep books close at hand – throughout your home, in the diaper bag, in the car – for sharing anytime. A few minutes throughout the day add up to a big benefit for your child.
Repeat favorites! Children love to hear their favorite stories over and over again – and the repetition helps them gain important literacy skills.