1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

About the Program

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a program for young children under the age of 5, and their guardians.

The goal of the program is for each child to read or hear 1,000 books before beginning kindergarten. This is an ongoing program, so families can work at their own pace. If a parent reads at least three stories a day with their child, they would finish in less than a year. Furthermore, you can re-read your child’s favorites as many times as you want. The same book read five times would count as five books read.

How it Works

Step 1: Register and pick up your 1000B4K materials at the library you use most often. This is the library that you will check in at.
You can also sign up here.

Step 2: Fill in a bubble on your reading log every time you read a book. If you read the same book 5 times, you can fill in 5 bubbles. Each log is for 100 books. Don't forget to check the back of your reading log for fun book lists to help with your reading goal.

Step 3: Check in at your preferred library every time you read 100 books for a small incentive.

Step 4: Once you’ve read 500 books, come to the library for you half-way prize.

Step 5: Keep reading!

Step 6: Once you’ve read 1000 books, come back to the library to get your final prize, a certificate, and to get your picture taken to be added to our 1000B4K photo album.

How can my child join?

To register, see the Youth Services desk in Statesville, the front desk at the Troutman or Harmony libraries, or online.

Why it's important

By spending a little time reading with their children each day, parents can make an enormous impact on their child’s future. Early literacy skills are not only related to reading, but success in all subjects throughout their entire school career and adulthood. It also helps create positive relationships between family members by spending that quality time together.

How 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten began

Early literacy development is something that is very important to the Iredell County Public Library. Kelli Goodwin, manager of the Troutman Branch, is especially passionate about advocating for families to begin reading to their children from infancy. Her love for early literacy began in college where she studied education. “A required book for one of my classes was Reading Magic by Mem Fox. That book changed my complete outlook on the subject. After countless hours of research and spending time with children in the classroom, it became very apparent just how important early literacy is."

The program originated in 2014 at the Bremen Public Library in Bremen, Indiana. “It is as simple as filling in a bubble every time you read a book. Each book log has 100 bubbles. Once those are all colored in, families return to the library to pick up their next log and a small incentive for reaching that milestone. I’ve also designed a train that will hang in our program room that the children will put a sticker on each time they read 100 books. It’s a great way to show everyone how far our children are coming.”

For more information on this program, stop in to any Iredell County Public Library, or call the Youth Services department at 704-878-3090 x3097.