The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their children. Read 1,000 books with the children in your life before they begin kindergarten and instill key language and vocabulary skills.
All children – birth to age 5 – are encouraged to participate. This is a free, self-paced program.
How to Participate
1. Register: Sign up online or at any NOLS location, including the Bookmobile.
2. Track Your Reading: Use the Beanstack website or mobile app. Along the way, earn digital badges to highlight your progress! Prefer to keep track on a paper form? Pick one up at your local NOLS branch or on the Bookmobile.
3. Every Book Counts: If your child wants to read the same book again and again, you can count it each time. You can also count audiobooks and the books your child hears at Storytime, in daycare or preschool, or with a friend or family member. Any book that your child hears counts toward the goal. You can choose to log each title or only count the number of books.
4. Reach Milestones and Get Rewards:
- For every 100 books, visit your NOLS location for a prize sticker.
- Earn a celebratory book to keep when you’ve read 500 books.
- Pick up a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten NOLS tote bag once you’ve read 1,000 books!
Email Youth@nols.org or contact the Library with any questions.
The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program is generously funded in part by local Friends of the Library groups.
