1,000 Books Before Kindergarten promotes early literacy skills for children from birth to age five. It encourages parents and caregivers to read regularly with their children.
Why 1000 Books Before Kindergarten?
Learning to read begins before children start school. Parents are their children’s first teachers. Research has found that the more children have books read to them, the more prepared they will be to learn to read and to enjoy reading upon entering kindergarten.
Who can participate?
Any child from birth until kindergarten. If you wish to check out library books, the parent or caregiver will need a library card. A child must be 5 years old to have his or her own card.
Do I have to read books from the library?
You may read books from anywhere. Books from the library, home, grandma’s house, or daycare count.
Parents, grandparents, older brothers or sisters, babysitters, teachers, librarians, or others may read them. As long as your child hears the whole story, a book counts. . . and it counts as many times as you read it!
We hope that you include library books in your reading. Library staff will be glad to help you choose books that your child will enjoy.
How long do I have to read 1000 books?
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is not a contest. It ends when your child begins kindergarten. Until then, you have as long as you need to read and enjoy books together.
How does 1000 Books Before Kindergarten work?
Sign up your child at Paris Public Library and pick up your welcome packet with your first reading log.
Start reading! Mark a circle on the reading log every time your child hears a book read aloud. You may make an x, color the circle in, or even put a sticker in each circle if you want to be creative.
When you finish your first 100 books, bring the reading log to the library. Your child will receive a sticker marking that milestone.
Pick up the next reading log and continue the process for the next 100 books, and so on, until you reach 1000 books.
At 1000 books, your child will get a certificate and a Beanie Baby as a reading buddy. Your child’s name will be added to our wall of readers.
How long does it take to read 1000 books?
That depends. The average children’s picture book takes about 5 minutes to read. If you read 1 book a day to your child, you will read 365 books in a year. Two books a day is 730 books in a year. Three books a day is 1095 books in a year.
Questions? Ask a librarian. Call, email, or come in to sign up your child. Already signed up, but can’t come to pick up a new reading log? Let us know and we will email one.