How to Play

1. Read a book.

Any book. The same book over and over. Different books. A book you heard at the library or in the car. Any book.

2. Color a shape.

Do this every time you finish a book. Read the same book five times? Color five shapes.

3. Return your reading log.

When you finish marking all the shapes, bring your reading log to the library to share with a librarian.

 

Download and print your own reading logs

 

Q & A

What is 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten? 

The program is a nationwide early literacy program with a simple concept: Get kids reading.

What are the benefits of participating? 

The single greatest predictor of high academic achievement is reading to kids. Not flashcards. Not educational workbooks, fancy apps, or expensive toys. Just caregivers, taking the time to sit down with kids and share wonderful books. Getting in the habit of reading to your child daily will set them up for success in school.

Who is the program for?

Any child, ages 0 – 5, who hasn’t started kindergarten yet.

Are there incentives? 

• Kids will receive a sticker for every 100 books they complete.
• Every child who completes the program will receive their choice of a blue or purple backpack branded with Snowball the Bunny, one of Shaker Library’s mascots.

Reading 1,000 books feels daunting. Is it even possible?

Think of it this way: 1 book per day is…

• 365 books in a year.
• 730 books in two years.
• Over 1,000 in three years.

For the kids who read a couple of books every day, they could finish in a year or two.

Who funds this program?

The Friends of the Shaker Library and the Libraries Accelerating Learning Grant from the Ohio Department of Education.