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1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

New Program at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County

November 6, 2019

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten – Sign Up Starting November 1

Reading with your baby, toddler or preschooler is one of the best ways to prepare your child for success in school.  Starting November 1, parents can sign up their children for the program - it’s never too early or too late to start. The 1,000 Books program is open to all children from birth until they start kindergarten.  You might think that 1,000 books sounds like a lot, but it’s not as hard as you think!  By reading one book a day, you will finish 1,095 books in three years.  By reading three books a day, you will finish 1,095 books in one year!  You can even count books more than once, for those favorites your child wants to hear over and over.  Books read at library storytimes also count.                               

How does it work?

  1. Sign up at any library branch beginning November 1.  Participants will receive a book bag and a reading log.  For every book read, color one circle on the log. 
  2. When you have read 100 books to your child, bring the completed log back to the library. The participating child will receive a button to pin onto their book bag and a new reading log. 
  3. After every 100 books, make sure to stop in for your button and next reading log.
  4. When you reach 1,000 books, your child will receive a t-shirt and a certificate of completion.  But most importantly, your child will have a jump start on school success!

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Kick-Off Event

November is Picture Book Month! Join us at the Southern Park Mall for some of our favorite picture books.  We’ll celebrate the launch of 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten with books, songs, rhymes, and fingerplays.  Library staff will be on hand to help you register your child and get started with 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.

Southern Park Mall, 11 a.m. on Mon., Nov. 11