Did you know that reading to your child is one of the most powerful ways to boost his or her brain power? The simple and enjoyable act of sharing books helps your child learn pre-reading skills such as understanding the sounds letters make, developing a bigger vocabulary, and building background knowledge – all important skills that help prepare your child for learning to read and entering kindergarten.

Cheney Library’s 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program is a fun, exciting, and free way to start your child on the path to success! Any child ages birth through five years can participate. Just follow these steps:

• Start Your Reading: Choose books from home or the library (be sure to have a look at our 1000 Book Club tote bags that contain 5-10 books but check out as one item).

• Track Your Reading: Use the tracking sheet in this folder or download the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten app for your phone to keep track of your child’s progress.

• Every Book Counts: Even if your child wants to hear the same book again and again, you can count it each time. You can also count books that your child hears in storytime, in daycare or preschool, or with a friend or family member, as long as your child listens to the entire book.

• Keep on Reading: Don’t stop at 1000! Keep on reading together; there’s more learning ahead!

• Share Your Journey: We invite you to share your 1000 Books Before Kindergarten  journey on social media by posting in the comments section of our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten posts on Facebook.

One thousand books may seem like a lot, but if you read just one book a night, you’ll meet your goal in less than three years. If you read three books a night, you could reach your goal in just one year! Ask our friendly staff for suggestions. We’re here to help you on your journey to 1000 Books Before Kindergarten!

Happy Reading!