1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

Who?

Children who have not yet started kindergarten. Even infants can participate!

What?

Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to have read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books) before your child starts kindergarten.

Where?

The Archbold Community Library! Sign up at the front desk to participate!

When?

Anytime! Better late than never!

Why?

There are many benefits of early literacy like future academic success, vocabulary buillding, emotional awareness, etc. In addition, the Children's Book Council explains that, "Academics aside, having a regular story time together means that you and your child are guaranteed to enjoy a few minutes of bonding every day. In an increasingly busy and harried world, that alone is beautiful." Who can disagree with that?

How?

Register: Sign up at the front desk. There you will receive more information and the materials you will need to get started, including your child’s first reading log.

Start reading: Read any book and record the title on the reading log you receive when you sign up (or on any sheet of paper). You can also download the “1000 Books before Kindergarten” app to record your titles there. Even if your child wants to hear the same book again and again, you can count it each time. You can also count the books your child hears in story hour/time, in daycare or preschool, or with a friend or family member, as long as your child listens to the entire book. *If your child attends story hour at the Archbold Community Library, you can count write “SH” for 3 spaces on your child’s reading log each time they attend a class (that is how many books they will hear during one story hour class).

Bring your reading log to the library at each 100 milestone: After you have read 100 books with your child, bring your reading log in. You will then receive your next reading log for the next 100 books you will read and your milestone prize. Your child will also put their name on the “1,000 Books before Kindergarten Wall of Fame” that is displayed in the library.