What is 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten?
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a free nationwide program that encourages parents and caregivers to read 1,000 books with their child before they enter kindergarten.
Research shows that sharing books, conversations, and songs with young children builds language skills. This type of sharing contributes to children’s healthy development, encourages parent and child bonding, provides skills children need to succeed in school and helps assure they become lifelong lovers of books.
Getting Started
- Sign up today at
- Stop by the library and pick up your tote bag and log book
- Keep track of your reading and activities
Who can participate?
Any child that has not yet entered Kindergarten.
What books count?
Any time your child listens to a book it counts! It can be a library book, a book from home, a book read at storytime, or even an audiobook or e-book. You can count multiple readings of the same book, too! Multiple readings help develop language skills.
Can I really expect to read 1000 books to my child before kindergarten?
Yes! Completion will take from a few months to a few years, depending on how often you read.
When you reach 1000 books stop in the library to receive your certificate, stuffed animal, and prize book!
Keep reading!
Don't stop at 1000. Keep going!