| Support Libraries | 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
One thousand books? You got this!
If you read just one book a night to your child, you’ll have already read 1,095 books in three years! It doesn’t matter if your child is a baby or a toddler; there’s no better time to start than now.
Reading aloud sparks creativity and imagination and is a wonderful way to bond with your child. Every time you read a book together, you’re giving them the gifts of language, vocabulary, and the necessary pre-reading skills for kindergarten.
Sign up today for the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten reading challenge!
How to participate
Who
Any child who hasn’t started kindergarten is encouraged to participate. You can start at any time, just be sure to finish before your child enters kindergarten.
How to Sign Up
Use Beanstack to log your reading, earn badges, and earn fun and exciting prizes along the way. Paper logs are available for download or at your local branch and below, but Beanstack is the official way to track. Please ask library staff if you have questions about Beanstack or need help making an account.
Have fun!
Read a book a day to your baby or toddler, and you’ll reach your goal in no time.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Frequently Asked Questions
Why 1,000 books before kindergarten?
Sharing books and stories is important for a child’s brain development.
- Children who are read to at an early age have larger vocabularies when they enter school.
- The most important predictor of school success is being read to at home during early childhood.
- Reading aloud to infants and children encourages social, emotional, and cognitive development.
- A toddler’s brain creates up to two million new connections every second.
- A child’s brain develops most rapidly before the age of three.
- The ability to learn language skills is greatest before the age of six.
Do books that I read with the child before signing up for this program count?
Yes! If you already have a log of books that you’ve been keeping track of, please feel free to add them to your Beanstack tracking.
If I use a paper reading log, do I still need to use Beanstack?
Yes, you will still need to sign up for a Beanstack account and input your reading there in order to complete the challenge and receive prizes. This is a long-term program, so keeping track of things electronically helps everything stay organized.
I don’t have a Smartphone, tablet, computer, or internet access. How can I participate?
The library has public computers that you can use for all your Beanstack needs. Staff are available to assist you.
Do I need a library card to participate?
No, a Georgia public library card is not required to participate. However, having a library card can help you access books to read for free!
Can I count the same book more than once?
Yes! If your child loves reading the same story over and over again, they’re still learning and growing. You may count the same title as many times as your child wants to read it, but we also encourage you to read a wide array of books to increase your child’s exposure to different vocabulary and concepts.
Can I wait to pick up all the prizes at one time?
Prizes and guidelines vary for each participating library. Please contact your local library to find out when and how they will be distributing prizes.
Can I read any book, or just the ones on a library booklist?
You can read any book for this reading challenge. Library booklists are a great place to start, but you are welcome to read any book!
When is the deadline to finish reading 1000 books?
Your child must have read their 1,000 books before they begin kindergarten. You have plenty of time to finish!
How old does my child have to be to participate?
There is no minimum age to participate. This program is for children from birth to not yet in kindergarten.
Questions?
If you have additional questions about this program, please visit or call your local library branch for more information, or send an email to ebush@georgialibraries.org If you are a library staff member, you can access 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten resources here.
