1000 Books Before Kindergarten

The Charles Town Library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is an easy, fun, and exciting way to start your child on the path to success. Any child, from birth until the start of kindergarten can participate.

Register to Read!

The most powerful way to boost your child’s brain power is to read and share books with your child. This simple act helps your child learn pre-reading skills, including the sounds letters make, the development of a larger vocabulary, and background knowledge—all important building blocks in preparing children to read and enter kindergarten.

Attainable Goals

The goal is to read
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

1 book a night = 365 books a year; 730 in 2 years;
and 1,095 in 3 years.

2 books a night = 730 books a year.

3 books a night = 1,095 books a year.

The more books your child sees and hears, the better!

Let’s Get Started

  1. REGISTER: Sign up at the Charles Town Library. You will be given a folder with a reading log for the first fifty books, a board book, and tips to make reading aloud one of the most enjoyable and beneficial activities you can share with your child.
  2. TRACK YOUR READING: For every book read, note the title and the day read. The journal will provide your child a valuable record of everything that was read to them from babyhood up until the start of kindergarten or use an alternate log to keep track of every book read.
  3. EVERY BOOK COUNTS: A child often likes to hear the same book over and over again. Each time the same book is read, it counts. Story Time at the library, daycare, or preschool counts, too! Also, it doesn’t
    matter who reads to your child, as long as your child listens to the entire book. You can read books anywhere—home, preschool, grandma’s
    house, waiting rooms, anywhere where there are books.
  4. FIFTY BOOK MILESTONES: After fifty books are read, bring your reading log back to the library to receive a small reward. Take home a new reading log for the next 50 books.
  5. 1,000 BOOKS: Celebrate at the library this important milestone in your child’s life. You will receive an extra special reward.
  6. KEEP ON READING: Don’t stop at 1,000 books. Read 2,000 books to earn a bronze medal; read 3,000 books to earn a silver medal, and go for the gold with 4,000 books read.