In a lot of ways, reading is connection. It connects us with people and places we'll never meet or experience. It helps guide us through hard times or adds perspective to a full and joyful life.
Our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program has quietly been serving families for 8 years. And while we keep the bones of the program the same (read 1000 books with your kiddo before they start kindergarten), we decided to give this challenge a “glow up” to get it back on people's radar. We hope to make it easier to sign up & track your reads and give you plenty of check-ins to help you finish what can feel like a daunting challenge. If you're ready to get started, check out this short guide to start logging those books!
What All That Reading Can Do for Your Kids
Although we (researchers, librarians, educators, etc.) don't have a one-size-fits-all formula for creating self-motivated readers and book lovers, a lot of studies have shown that kids who have greater access to books, read often, and spend more time bonding with the adults in their lives are better prepared to become lifelong readers. And that crucial work starts even before kids begin to read themselves. Reading to 1-2 year olds can even improve their language arts skills years in the future. In other words, reading aloud to your child can help set them up for success on their reading journey and also lead to academic success.
Cherished Memories Await You
Not only is completing the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge going to set your pre-reader up for success, but it's going to give you so many beautiful memories: laying on the couch with a kid cuddled up on your chest, their hair tickling your nose and their hands touching yours as they help turn the page. I still remember snuggling up on our blue couch while my parents read aloud JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Due to many car trips with Jim Dale narrating the Harry Potter series while trekking across the western United States, I can fall asleep to the audiobooks in less than 5 minutes. My own children benefit from having a book-loving librarian as their parent — so we’re reading a lot. In a lot of ways, reading is connection. It connects us with people and places we'll never meet or experience. It helps guide us through hard times or adds perspective to a full and joyful life. Sitting cross-legged on the floor with a warm, wiggly little one as they point out every object on the page is helping them to build those connections — with you, with the world, with words, with reading.
So let's build some connections, let's create some memories, let's read 1000 books together. You can read a book a day and finish in a couple of years or you can read 3 books a day and finish in under a year. However you want to complete the journey, we're here for you! Your youth services staff, children's librarians and all of us here at LPL are ready to jump in and help you along. Whether that's with book recommendations, encouragement, or lists of hundreds of books to get you started (see below). You've got this! And we've got your back!
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! Ask at the desk if you'd like to read 1000 books to your little one for prizes and more! Each of these lists feature 100 titles chosen with care by our youth services team! We hope you love exploring these books and please ask us if we can help you find more titles to help you on your journey!
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A Note About the Header Image: These are all pictures of LPL staff reading to their kiddos, or being read to by friends or family!
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