This program is possible thanks to
Beth Cigler and the Lawrence Public Library Friends & Foundation.
Embark on a journey through the pages of 1,000 books! The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program encourages families to explore the world of books, get prizes, grow as readers, and have fun together. The library is here to cheer you on and connect you and your baby, toddler, or preschooler with books perfect for laughs, snuggles, and building literacy skills.
How to participate | Record progress | You can do it | We can help
Why participate
Studies exhaustively show that an early childhood filled with books and informal learning vastly increases a child’s success in school. Young children who are read to regularly show a mastery of vocabulary and reading comprehension, and demonstrate increased learning potential over peers who aren’t exposed to books. In addition to the educational benefits, reading together is wonderful for building memories and bonding!
- Sharing books helps to build a love of reading, which will motivate your child to stick with it when learning to read becomes more of a challenge.
- Reading daily with your child builds vocabulary, an essential tool in the kits of strong readers.
- Accomplishing the goal of reading 1,000 books gives your child a sense of pride.
- Reading builds empathy and expands acceptance for a diversity of beliefs and lifestyles that may seem different from a child’s own lived experiences.
- Children explore colorful artwork and photographs in books, building visual literacy along with their knowledge of written and spoken language.
How to participate
- Sign up on Beanstack OR pick up a paper log at the library.
- Once you’ve filled in one log, bring it to the library to track your progress and get your next log.
- We’ll have prizes for you when you reach 300 books, 600 books and 1,000 Books!
- 300 Books- Canvas Book Bag (to carry all your books!)
- 600 Books- Reading Buddy (small stuffie to snuggle while reading)
- 1,000 Books- Hardcover Treasury Book, Bumpersticker
You can do it
- If you read three books a night, you’ll be done with the program in less than a year
- Most picture books are short, so reading a few a night may only take 15 minutes
- Each time you read a book, it counts as one book
- Attend library storytimes, because those books count, too
- We’d love to help you find amazing books to share. Some are already included below and on our online catalog
- We’ve put together a bundle of resources to help you keep up the good work
We've got your back
Stay on top of 1,000's of great book suggestions when you follow us on the catalog.
Lawrence Kid Picks: 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Mega Lists!
We've created some wonderful mega lists of books for you and your little one to explore as part of our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program! Each of these lists feature 100 titles chosen with care by our Youth Services team.
View the Mega List