1000 Books
How It Works
Prepare your child for one of their biggest milestones: kindergarten!
What is 1000 Books Before Kindergarten?
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a program designed to help parents prepare their children for one of life’s big milestones: kindergarten. Research has shown that children get ready to read years before they begin their formal education. An excellent way to get your child ready to learn is to read to them.
Why should your family participate in 1000 Books Before Kindergarten?
Reading with your child and making it a special time together shows him that reading is valuable and enjoyable. You can start to develop a love of reading in your child from a very young age!
By coming to the library together, you can teach your child an understanding of how the library works, a respectful attitude towards books, and an appreciation for the wide range of stories that can be found at the library.
How does reading 1000 Books help my child?
You are your child’s first teacher and your home is where your child begins to learn. When you talk, sing, read, write, and play you are helping your child get ready to read! Through reading aloud, a child:
- Develops background knowledge about a variety of topics
- Builds vocabulary
- Becomes familiar with rich language patterns
- Develops familiarity with story structure
- Acquires familiarity with the reading process
- Identifies reading as a pleasurable activity
FAQs
Take a photo of your child reading and tag us #PCL1000Books
Who can participate in this program?
Any child who has not yet entered kindergarten.
Can my child really read 1000 books before kindergarten?
Yes! Completion will take from a few months to a few years, depending on how often you read.
What books count?
Any time your child listens to a whole book it counts! It can be a library book, a book from home, a book read at story time, even an audio book or e-book. You can even count multiple readings of the same book. Multiple readings help to develop language skills.
| Child’s Age When 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is Started | Number of Books Read Per Day to Complete 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten | Number of Books Read Per Week to Complete 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Years Old | 1 | 4 |
| 1 Years Old | 1 | 5 |
| 2 Years Old | 1 | 7 |
| 3 Years Old | 2 | 10 |
| 4 Years Old | 3 | 20 |
How do I register my child?
Stop by our children’s room in the library to sign up and get your first book log.
What are the prize levels?
Bring your child into our library’s children’s room each time they complete one of the below levels.
| How Many Books Read | Prizes Earned |
|---|---|
| 100 | Sticker & tote bag |
| 200 | Sticker & activity page |
| 300 | Sticker |
| 400 | Sticker |
| 500 | Sticker & book |
| 600 | Sticker |
| 700 | Sticker & activity page |
| 800 | Sticker |
| 900 | Sticker |
| 1000 | Sticker & Hall of Fame Picture & Certificate |
My child has read 1000 books. Now what?
We celebrate your child’s literacy milestone with an invitation to a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten graduation celebration. Your child will also receive a certificate with a chance to have their photo featured on our Hall of Fame photo gallery on Facebook.
How can my child’s older siblings become Super Hero Readers?
Email your photos of older siblings reading to your child at hoimesj@parklandlibrary.org. We will email you a Super Hero Reader certificate and your child will star in our Super Hero Reader photo gallery on Facebook.