1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

The Worcester Public Library will be closed Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program encourages families and caregivers to read 1,000 books with their young children before they enter kindergarten.

Reading 1,000 books before kindergarten will stimulate your child’s imagination, improve listening and communication skills, foster a love of reading, and has indicated academic success in the future. Completing the 1,000 Book program will help prepare children for kindergarten and for beginning to read on their own!

For a paper log click here.

How does it work?

Participation in the program is free. Just visit any Worcester Public Library location to pick up a welcome folder.

1. Ask a librarian to help you sign up and receive your paper log.

2. Read any books to or with your child. Track all books you read together as well as books your child shares with others, at storytime, daycare, or preschool.

3. Visit any WPL location each time you read 100 books and receive a sticker. When you complete 500 books, your child will receive a picture book. Read 1,000 books and your child will be awarded a certificate and a t-shirt they can wear with pride!

FAQs

Can we really read that many books before kindergarten? Yes! If you read one book a day you can complete the program within three years. If you read three books a day, you will finish in just one year!

Can other people read to my child besides me? Stories read by parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. all count. You can also count books read at story times.

But my child wants to read the same book over and over, does that count? The good news is that repetition is important to learning and you can count that book multiple times.that repetition is important to learning and you can count that book multiple times.