1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program is an exciting and free way to encourage caregivers to read 1,000 books with their young children before starting Kindergarten. Reading aloud to young children helps develop literacy skills so that children enter Kindergarten ready to learn.

If you read just one book per day, you will complete the program in under three years! You can read anything you would like. You do not have to read 1000 different books. Count each reading when repeating a story. Books that are read aloud in story times and classrooms should be counted. Our Youth Services Librarians are always happy to provide book recommendations! Stop by the Children’s Desk to register. Caregivers will receive a reading log to start tracking the number of books read. Return your reading log to the Children’s Desk for a prize each time 100 books have been read. Children will receive a different prize for each level of the program. Prizes include free books, a coloring mat, a stuffed animal, a T-shirt, and more!