1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Reading with your baby, toddler, or preschooler is one of the best ways to help them become a lifelong reader. Taking part in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program encourages family bonding while your child develops the skills they'll need to succeed in school like building social and emotional skills, and sparking their creativity. Take that motivation, open one book, and get started.

The Goal

Read 1000 books with your child before they start kindergarten.

That may seem like a big number, but you've got plenty of time. If you read one book each day with your child, that's 1095 books after three years. Reading three books each day will get you to 1095 books in only one year. (And yes, reading a favorite book over and over counts toward your goal!)

How to Take Part

Register

To register for the program, create an account for your family on the library's Beanstack online resource. Be sure to add your child as a reader, and set their grade level to "Babies and Toddlers" or "Preschoolers." If you need help registering, visit Troy-Miami County Public Library, board the bookmobile, or visit the Oakes-Beitman Memorial LIbrary in Pleasant Hill.

Go to Beanstack

Read

Spend time reading with your child. Books your child reads with a family member, caregiver, teacher, or at library storytime!

If you need good books to read ask a librarian for books that match your child's age and interests.

Track Your Reading

Use your Beanstack account to log the books your family reads.

You can also record the books you read on a paper tracking sheet you can pick up at the library or download and print one HERE. Once your tracking sheet is full, bring it to your library.

Earn Badges & Prizes

Your child will earn an online badge in Beanstack every time they reach a milestone on the way to their 1000 books goal.

Each time your child reaches a hundred book milestone in their reading log, they'll earn a prize. After reading all 1000 books, they'll earn a prize pack and a certificate. Your family can pick up earned prizes from their library.