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1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to read aloud regularly to their children. The greatest predictor of school success is reading to a child regularly before they start school.
Any child who has not yet started kindergarten is eligible to participate. A library card is not required to participate in the program, though encouraged. Children are eligible for a QPL library card as soon as they are born.
Children and families earn awards for reaching reading milestones of books read, at 100, 300, 500, 700, and 1000.
Research shows the most reliable predictor of school success is being read to during early childhood. Reading to children from an early age prepares children to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed, like developing a larger vocabulary, understanding the sounds letters make, following a storyline, and building background knowledge. Most importantly, sharing books with children promotes a lifelong love of books and reading. Singing songs, saying rhymes, telling stories, and playing with your child are all great ways to develop their literacy skills.
QPL storytimes and children’s activities all offer opportunities to share the love of reading with your child and provide information on building reading skills that parents can implement at home. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is another opportunity to help families build their child’s pre-reading and literacy skills.