1000 Books Before Kindergarten
On behalf of the 1000 Book Foundation, we invite you to participate in 1000 books before kindergarten, a free program at the Genesee Area Library. This program encourages you to read 1000 books with your child before they start kindergarten.
Overview:
Simple idea that leads to priceless rewards. Read a book, any book, to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler with the goal of reading 1000 books before their first day of kindergarten. It’s not as hard as you might think. If you read just 1 book a night, you’ll have read 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years, and 1095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at or around the age of 5, you have more time than you think!
The key is perseverance. Make it exciting! When your child reaches a milestone (every 100 books read), they get a small reward from our prize basket and a photo with a sign showing their progress.
Read all 1000 books and your child gets a free book from the library!
How To Participate:
Read with your child. Studies have shown that reading with your children provides a great opportunity for bonding. Reading together is fun, creates life-long memories, and encourages your child to read on their own.
Keep track of the titles of the books you read with your child. Grab one of our convenient reading log sheets from the front desk, or use a spiral notebook, online tracker, etc.
If you are able, make sure to keep a record of any book that is being read to your child. This includes books read by teachers, siblings, or during story time at the library.
Frequently-Asked-Questions
Who can participate in this program? Any child from birth until they enter kindergarten can participate in this program.
How long will the program take? The program is self-paced and can take anywhere from a few months to a few years depending on how often you read together.
How many of my children can participate? All of them (provided they have not yet started kindergarten).
Can we read a book more than once and does it count? Absolutely! Re-read a book as many times as you and your child want.
How do we start? Fill out the signup form below, or stop into the library. Once you’re signed up, start tracking! Reading logs are available the library or you’re welcome to use any tracking program you desire.