1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
What is it?
Families are invited to join our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Our “Read Around Wisconsin” theme is our exclusive, local take on this national initiative. Our program is designed to nurture early literacy skills and strengthen the bond between children and their caregivers, all while exploring what makes Wisconsin unique.
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is more than just a reading challenge—it’s an opportunity for caregivers to play a vital role in their child’s educational journey. By sharing books together, families cultivate strong relationships and a lifelong love of learning and reading.
Sign up for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten to:
- Build pre-reading skills.
- Earn incentives.
- Grow your relationship.
- Learn about Wisconsin.
What’s the goal?
The concept is simple, read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to have read 1,000 books before your precious one starts kindergarten. By doing this your child will be better prepared for school and more likely to love books and reading.
1,000 Books Sounds like a lot.
The key is perseverance. Make it exciting. When your child reaches a milestone (every 100 books), your library will give him/her a prize. If you want, you can create your own rewards to celebrate as a family – like a special dinner or a trip to the bookstore!
If you read just 1 book a night, you will read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years.
How do I get started?
To participate, visit the library to register and pick up your first reading log or start keeping track of your reading via the Beanstack app!
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is funded in part with a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which administers the Library Services and Technology Act.