1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationwide reading challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to read 1000 books with their young children before they enter kindergarten. Children ages 0-5 can participate at any of our Wake County Public Libraries!
How to Participate
Who can join: Children from birth through kindergarten.
Track your reading: Record each book you read together in our tracker. Trackers can be picked up at any Wake County Public Library, or you can print one at home in English or Spanish to get started today.
Celebrate milestones:
Every 100 books → Visit the library for a sticker and info on upcoming 1000 Books Bash events.
At 500 book → Your child earns a special halfway prize.
At 1,000 books → Your child earns a special completion prize.
Benefits of Early Literacy
Every story you share helps your child by building listening, thinking and language skills. The more you read you will spark curiosity, strengthen confidence in reading and create moments of closeness with your child. It also prepares them for school and sets the stage for future academic success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we count the same book more than once? Yes! Repetition can benefit their early literacy development.
Can I count books I've read with my child before starting this program? Yes! If you already have a log of books you’ve been keeping track of, please feel free to add them to your reading tracker.
Is there a way to track my child’s books through their library account? Yes! If you log on to your library account from our online catalog, look for “My Account”. Once there, click on Reading History, and select “Start Recording My Reading History”. You will now be able to see all future books checked out on your library account. We ask that you still mark these books on your paper reading tracker as well.
Can I read any book or just the ones on a library booklist? You can read any book for this challenge. We have a recommended reading list created by our librarians if you need help getting started!
Can I count books that are read to my child in daycare or at library programs? Yes! Any book read to your child, by anyone, counts!
How many books do I need to read to my child each day to reach 1000 books? Here is a handy table to help you know how many books to read each day or week, depending on the starting age of your child.
|
Child's Age when starting |
Target Number of Books to Read Per Day |
Target Number of Books to Read Per Week |
|
0 Years Old |
1 |
4 |
|
1 Year Old |
1 |
5 |
|
2 Years Old |
1 |
7 |
|
3 Years Old |
2 |
10 |
|
4 Years Old |
3 |
20 |
How can I celebrate my child’s progress? Make sure you stop by the library with your reading tracker every time you reach a 100 book milestone. Also, check our events for young children to see which libraries are hosting 1000 Book Bash events!