1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is an early literacy program that encourages families and caregivers to read 1,000 books with their young children before they enter kindergarten. Research shows that reading to children at a young age can help them strengthen language skills, build vocabulary and instill a lifelong love of reading.
Beanstack FAQs
How long will it take to complete the program?
One thousand books may seem like a lot, but it all depends on how often you read with your child. For instance, if you read:
- Three books a day, you’ll finish in just one year.
- Two books a day, you’ll finish in two years.
- One book a day, you’ll finish in three years.
What books count toward the goal?
Every book you read counts, every time your child hears it. This includes books read by siblings, books children hear at storytime or while at daycare.
Our library locations each have a special 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten collection that are a great starting point. Each title in this collection was hand-selected by our librarians for this age group.
Can I read the same book again and again?
Repetition is important to learning and you can count the same book each time you read it.
Is my child too young to start this program?
It's never too soon to start reading to a child. Infants learn about language by listening to others talk. By talking, reading stories and asking questions, you are helping to build a baby's vocabulary and letting them know that questions are invitations for a response.