What is the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program?

It is a free program which encourages you to read 1,000 books with your child before they start kindergarten.

 

Who can enter the program?

Children from the time they’re born until the summer before they start kindergarten.

 

How do I sign up? 

To sign up, register below or talk to any children’s librarian! Adults can register through the Beanstack website or app and easily add all family members as readers under one account. 

Register Now

 

How many children can participate and do I register each of them separately?

All of them (before starting kindergarten)––and yes! Adults can easily add all family members as readers under one account though, and if you read to more than one child at the same time, you can add the book to each of them at the same time.

 

Are there prizes?

When you register for the program, you can come pick up a welcome packet, including a reading buddy, and physical reading logs to color in! There will also be occasional surprises throughout the game, like stickers, a halfway-there certificate, and more! When you finish the program, you’ll receive a a free book, and a photo of you with your completion certificate! 

 

Who is actually doing the reading?

Minutes logged can include caregivers or siblings reading to children or children reading to themselves, if they’re ready.

 

How long will the program take?

The program is self-paced and you decide how often and how long you will read to your child. It can take anywhere from a few months to a few years.

 

What are the goals of the program?

  • To promote early literacy so children can enter school ready to read and learn.
  • To introduce children to a variety of books.
  • To encourage families to regularly use the library.

 

Printable Reading Logs

We have printable color-in reading logs for different book ranges! You can pick them up in our children's services spaces, or print them below.

  Download and print the various reading logs.

 

How easy is it to make it to 1,000 books?

That’s just one bedtime story a night for three years, or ten books a week for two years, or 20 books a week for one year. You’ve got this! Check out our children’s staff picks recommendations.

 

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

  • Adventures with Barefoot Critters


  • The Circus Ship


  • Love Makes a Family


  • Please Baby Please


  • Monsters at the End of This Book


  • Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus


  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar


  • Jamberry


  • The Snowy Day


  • I Sang You Down from the Stars


  • The Kissing Hand


  • Bear's Busy Family: La Familia Ocupada de Oso


  • Who? A Celebration of Babies


  • The Alphabet Tree


  • Fifteen Animals


  • A Seed is a Start


  • Good Night Gorilla


  • Mother Bruce


  • The Bad Seed


  • Splash