*The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten name is used with permission from the 1000 Books Foundation.

What It Is

1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a fun, exciting, and free way to give your child a head start on the path to success by developing early literacy skills through reading books together.

Research shows reading aloud for just 20 minutes a day helps your child understand that letters make sounds, sounds make up words, and words make stories and songs.

This is a self-paced program open to children from ages 0 to 5 years old until they start Kindergarten.

One thousand books may seem like a lot, but:

• ONE book a night = 1,000 books in less than THREE YEARS
• THREE books a night = 1,000 books in just under ONE YEAR!

How It Works

Step 1: Register/Join

If you already have a Beanstack account, then you will sign in using that information. A new reader can be added to your account in Beanstack settings or ask staff at the service desk for help.

1. Visit either Library to pick up your 1000 Books Starter Kit folder (in English and en español)
   • The Starter Kit is not required to participate.
   • The kit provides program information, tips for parents, and a printed reading log.
     
     
2. Register or join the challenge using the QR Code from the kit, by following this Beanstack website link, or in the Beanstack mobile app
   
   
3. You can also ask staff to enroll your child when you pick up the Starter Kit.

Beanstack Mobile Apps

Step 2: Track Books Read

What Books You Can Count

You can count books read:

• More than once, as many times as they are read
• By parents
• By the child
• By sisters, brothers, family members, other caregivers
• In daycare, preschool, or a Library program

How to Track

To provide your child a tactile way to participate in tracking books:

1. Use the reading log from the 1000 Books Starter Kit folder or print one using the links below:
   1000 Books Reading Log
   1000 Books registro de lectura.
2. Color one crown on the log for each book read together.
3. When all the crowns are colored, it is time for a prize!

If you use the paper log for tracking, staff will quick-log your 100 books.

You can also track the number of books read together in the Beanstack app or on the Beanstack website, but it is not required.

Step 3: Pick Up Prizes

Every 100 books read earns your child a prize which can be picked up at either Library.