Welcome to the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge!

Are you ready for a reading adventure?

Studies have shown that families who read with their newborns, infants and toddlers set them up for success later in life.

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, “exposing babies to books and reading increases vocabulary and makes it easier for them to learn to read later on” (2016). Developing language and learning skills early on are an important toolset to bring into kindergarten!

How to Participate

Stop by the library and check out our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten display in the Children’s area. Grab a pre-made package which includes a registration slip. When you have completed your first 100 books, bring the slip and the completed page to the front desk. The package will contain reading logs that will help you track your child’s progress. Registration is currently in-library only!

How the Challenge Works

Each time you read a book with your child, you’ll colour in one of the dots on your reading log. You are encouraged to read the same book more than once and count it towards your goal!

Each time a child reaches a reading milestone, families are encouraged to pop into the library for a small prize. Once a child reaches 1000 books, families can come into the library to receive their special certificate of completion!

Aren’t 1000 Books a lot?

If you read just one book a night, you will have read 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years! How fast you reach the milestone is up to you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Can we count the books that siblings, grandparents, teachers, or librarians read to our child?  
  • Yes, absolutely!
• How long will it take? 
  • The program will take anywhere from a few months to a few years.  The program is self-paced and will depend on how often you read together.
• Can books read for the TD Summer reading challenge count?
  • Yes!
• My child likes to move and won’t sit for an entire story. Does it still count? 
  • Yes! Children need to move and explore. Try incorporating interactive books to increase their engagement.
• Is there a required reading list? 
  • Your child and you choose which books to read. Any book in any language counts! You are not required to keep track of book titles (unless you want to).
• Do I need a library card to participate?
  • No.. but with the ability to borrow an unlimited number of books for free, why not sign up you and your child for a library membership!