BML is excited to announce the start of our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program with all of you! The goal of participating in this program is to read 1,000 books with your newborn, infant or toddler before the start of kindergarten and celebrate milestones along the way!
Getting Started
Our 1,000 books program is now open! Stop by the library to sign up, pick up a log to keep track of your reading, and collect a 1,000 Books pin. Bring your tracking log to the library when it’s full for a new one and special rewards!
This program is available year round, for any children who have not yet started kindergarten. Any number of children from one family may participate.
Tracking
As long as you track the number of books you read, your logs can be whatever you like! Use one of BML’s provided logs below, download an app to your phone, create a reading journal or fill in a scrapbook! Try out different methods to find what works best for you!
Printable Tracking Log 1
Printable Tracking Log 2
iOS App available on iTunes
Android App available on Google Play
Rewards
Celebrate the journey and the growth along the way with some special rewards and swag! Notify the library at every 200 book milestone to ‘grow’ your child as a reader on our in-library tracker. At the half-way point, participants earn a special book bag to use at home or at the library! Finally, every year the library will hold a graduation ceremony for the children who complete their 1,000 books in that year. Program graduates can look forward to a special surprise gift as well as the chance to celebrate with family and friends!
FAQs
Q: Why read 1,000 books before Kindergarten?
A: The importance of reading and literacy at a young age is often overlooked. Reading with your child provides a unique bonding opportunity and creates special memories for both of you. The 1,000 books programs can begin to share the joy of reading and foster a life-long learning culture.
Q: Who can participate in this program?
A: Any child from birth until they enter kindergarten can participate and earn rewards and recognition. However, reading as a family is highly encouraged and can elevate the joy of reading!
Q: What counts as ‘reading’ for the program?
A: Sharing any book with your child! Reading to an infant, listening to an audiobook together, an older child reading with a younger and a child reading on their own all count for the purposes of tracking.
Q: Does each book have to be a new one?
A: No! While it’s fun to read a lot of different books with your child, each time you reread a book you can count it as its own entry on your tracking log.
Q: How long will the program take?
A: The program will take anywhere from a few months to a few years. It is self-paced and depends on how often you read together. If you read one book to your child every night, it won’t even take three years!
Blaisdell Memorial Library 