Concerning Kids: 1000 Book Before Kindergarten

Families are invited to join the “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program at the Stillwater Public Library.  The “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their children. By reading just one book a night, families can reach the 1,000-book goal in three years and provide their children essential early literacy skills.

The “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program is available to all families with children between the ages of birth and five years.  Once registered, families read and mark off books read on a paper log or via a smartphone app.  For every set of 100 books read, the children receive a sticker plus an additional prize.  At the 500 and 1,000 mark the prize is a free book to keep.  

Stillwater Public Library launched this program in the spring of 2016 during National Library Week. To date, 425 children have been registered and 31 children have read “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten!”  This program is free of charge and all funds were generously donated by the Frontier Masons.

Research shows that the most reliable predictor of school success is being read to during early childhood. Reading to children from an early age can help close the vocabulary gap and prepare children to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed. Most importantly, sharing books with children promotes a lifelong love of books and reading.

The “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program is ongoing and children may be registered at any time throughout the year, there is no end date besides the first day of Kindergarten. For more information or to register online, please see the website http://library.stillwater.org/SPL1KB4K.php