The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is designed to help parents/caregivers prepare their children for one of life’s biggest milestones: kindergarten! A number of research projects have proven over and over again that children get ready to read years before they begin their formal education. The most effective way to get children ready to learn is to read to them. A child can participate until he or she enters kindergarten, beginning at any age.

How to get started:

  1. Come to The Brookfield Library to register for the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program and receive your Early Literacy Kit, which includes a small tote bag and a two-pocket folder with program information, resources and reading logs. You can sign up at any time!
  1. Each time you read a book with your child, color or check off a book in your reading log. Remember, if you read the same book over and over again, it counts each time. Stories read to your child at daycare or preschool, at the Library’s storytimes, or at grandma’s house count, too!
  1. Keep track of the titles of the books you read with your child. Make a record of what you are reading in a notebook, online, or by whatever method you want. The journal itself will make a great keepsake item for your child.
  1. Show us your log every time you reach a milestone to receive your prize.
  2. When you have finished 1,000 books, your child will be able to select a new picture book to add to our collection. The book will include a bookplate with your child’s name on it. Your child will be the first one to check out his/her honor book. In addition, we will take a picture of your child holding the honor book, which we will display proudly in the children’s area of the library.

Suggestions:

  1. Have fun! Reading together should never be a chore.
  2. Take every chance you have to read with your children, tell and talk about stories, say nursery rhymes, and sing songs.
  3. Expose your child to a variety of different types of stories and vocabulary. Learning depends on repetition. It’s good when children ask for favorite stories to be read again and again. When you have the opportunity, introduce new stories so that your child has a chance to experience and hear as many new words and concepts as possible.
  4. Children learn best when they are in a good mood, so read with your child when the experience will be most pleasurable for both of you.

How long does it take to reach 1,000 books?

If you read one story at bedtime every night for three years, you’ll have shared 1,095 books. If you read ten books a week for two years, you’ll have shared 1,040 books! If you read three books per day for one year, you’ll have read 1,095 books!