1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Reading one thousand books before kindergarten? You'll be surprised at how quickly the books add up once you start keeping track!

“Reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development, and strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy and social emotional skills that last a lifetime.”

American Academy of Pediatrics

Literacy Promotion: An Essential Component of Primary Care Pediatric Practice

HOW IT WORKS

Who can sign-up?

Any child who hasn’t started kindergarten is encouraged to participate. You can start at any time, just be sure to finish before your child enters kindergarten.

How to sign-up for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten:

Let our staff know that you're interested in signing up for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Families will receive a tote bag and their first reading tracker when they sign up at the Port Townsend Public Library. Every time you complete a reading tracker, visit the library and get a punch on your stamp card. Additional reading trackers can be printed from our website (available below) or pick up a new one from the library at any time.

Program completion:

Upon completing the program, kids will receive a free book from the Port Townsend Library Friends and Foundation, a certificate signed by the library staff, and their picture will be posted in the Children’s Room of the library. Additionally, the parent or caregiver who participated in this program along with their child will receive a full-color print of Faith Pray’s artwork.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why 1000 books before kindergarten?

Sharing books and stories is important for a child’s brain development.

Children who are read to at an early age have larger vocabularies when they enter school.
The most important predictor of school success is being read to at home during early childhood.
Reading aloud to infants and children encourages social, emotional and cognitive development.
A toddler’s brain creates up to two million new connections every second.
A child’s brain develops most rapidly before the age of three.
The ability to learn language skills is greatest before the age of six.

Do books that I read with the child before signing up for this program count?

Yes! If you already have a log of books that you’ve been keeping track of, please feel free to add them to your 1000 Books Before Kindergarten reading tracker.

Do I need a library card to participate?

No, a Port Townsend Public Library card is not required to participate. However, having a library card can help you access 1000 books to read for free!

Can I count the same book more than once?

Yes! If your child loves reading the same story over and over again, they’re still learning and growing. You may count the same title as many times as your child wants to read it.

Can I read any book, or just the ones on a library booklist?

You can read any book for this reading challenge. Library booklists are a great place to start, but you are welcome to read any book!

When is the deadline to finish reading 1000 books?

This program will hopefully remain active for many years in the future. The books must be completed before a child starts kindergarten. You have plenty of time to finish!

How old does my child have to be to participate?

There is no minimum age to participate. This program is for children from birth to not yet in kindergarten.