1000 Books Before Kindergarten

cartoon kids reading a book

Did you know that reading to your child is one of the most powerful ways to boost their brain power? The simple and enjoyable act of sharing books helps your child learn prereading skills such as understanding the sounds letters make, developing a bigger vocabulary, and building background knowledge.

All books count—whether read by you, your child, daycare providers, or even during library storytimes. The goal is to read 1000 books before your little one starts kindergarten.

FAQs

We recommend starting the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge during the toddler years but completing the challenge in their preschool years—when your child is old enough to start understanding that reading leads to reaching goals and earning rewards.

Register your child at the circulation desk and receive your 1000B4K folder. The folder contains everything you need to get started: instructions, ten log sheets (100 books/sheet), and a starter-pack of stickers to track the books read. Celebrate every 100 books read as a triumph, making the journey even more rewarding. Each time a sheet is completed, bring it to the library and your child can pick a small prize out of the prize basket.

The program is self-paced and will depend on how often you read together. 1,000 books may sound like a lot, but it adds up quickly! If you read just one book each night, you’ll reach your goal in less than three years. Read three books a night, and you could finish in about one year!

Yes! Every book counts. It can feel repetitive to adults—but when a child asks for the same book again and again, something powerful is happening. Re-reading is actually one of the best things for early literacy and development. The first time they hear a story, they’re figuring out what’s happening. The fifth (or fifteenth!) time? They’re noticing details, predicting what comes next, and sometimes even “reading” it to you from memory. That repetition isn’t boredom — it’s learning.