The First 1,000 Books
We are proud to present “1,000 Books before Kindergarten.”
Register at the Youth Services desk on the second floor and receive your welcome packet (one per participating child). In your packet there will be a tracking sheet for the first 100 books. Document the books you read to your child or the ones your child reads on his or her own. Bring your child to the Library and celebrate your achievement. Your child will receive a small reward, an apple on our literacy tree and you can pick up the next reading log pages. All children from birth until they begin kindergarten are eligible to participate.
Why spend this time reading with your child? Research demonstrates that young children who are read to on a regular basis have significant advantages when learning to read for themselves. Reading with your child also helps with bonding/closeness in your relationship. And this time helps your child build early literacy skills while learning to pay attention. These are foundations for school success. Documenting your progress helps you both see how much you’ve accomplished. All of these benefits will last a lifetime.
Reading 1,000 books isn’t as hard as it might sound. If you read just one bedtime story every night, you will complete the entire program in just under three years. What a great investment in your child’s education and your relationship!
Check out some of these titles below to get started:
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
Molly tells the following story about her Caldecott Honor Book: “One day a friend told me that her (white) little boy had sat in her lap the whole way through a reading of Ten, Nine, Eight, had put his little white feet on the page with the ten small, brown toes, and, when the book was done and she has just said, ‘One small girl all ready for bed,’ her son had said, ‘Just like me!’ and curled up and gone to sleep. That story had made me happy.”
Animals Should Definitely not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett
Delightfully illustrated by Ron Barrett we see the hapless snake, the hungry billy goat and the soggy walrus trying on some new clothes. This fun tale by Judi Barrett shows us all why animals’ natural clothing is perfect just the way it is.
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
What a perfect way to begin our journey with best friends Frog & Toad. In this first of the celebrated stories, Frog has difficulty as he tries to wake up his best friend, Toad, from his long winter’s nap. Finally Toad is awakened and it begins the journey of friendship for us all.
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
USA Today says, “Christelow’s expressive monkeys pack a lot of appeal.” ALA Booklist writes, “this is pure silliness – just the kind kids like.” You can follow monkey adventures as they bake a cake, look for Santa, and so much more. As you follow the monkeys you will also see how Eileen’s monkey art changes over time.