Every young child enjoys curling up with a favorite grown-up and a favorite book. Reading with your child inspires a lifelong love of books and builds the early literacy skills every child needs to learn to read.
The more children are read to, the larger their vocabulary becomes, and the more prepared they are for school.
Heights Libraries is committed to supporting every child in our community on their path towards reading. That’s why we’ve joined the national 1,000 Books before Kindergarten campaign. Join us by signing your little one up for this free, fun program!
How to participate
- Sign up at any branch of Heights Libraries with a staff person in the Children’s Department! You can also download the 1,000 Books app to track progress.
- Participants do not have to read 1,000 separate titles, and there is no required reading or booklist associated with the program. Books are counted each time they are read.
- Participants can sign up at any time of year or at any age until they are enrolled in kindergarten.
- Participants are encouraged to keep reading in order to reach their 1,000 book goal even after entering a kindergarten program.
- If a child and caregiver have already been actively participating in a 1,000 Books program on their own, they may still sign up with the Library program, and we will honor their completed
reading.
Special Milestone Prizes and Incentives
- At registration, each child will receive a special “I’m On My Way to 1,000 Books!” tote bag. The library will also display a ladybug with the child’s name. For each 100 books, they can add a new black spot to their ladybug!
- Each child will receive a sticker for each 100-book milestone.
- 1000 Books Read: “I’ve Read 1,000 Books!” T-Shirt
Why 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten?
- Listening to books and reading together with parents and caretakers nurtures childhood brain development and builds the necessary early literacy skills every child needs in order to learn to read and be prepared for school.
- Reading together promotes a lifelong love of books by creating a positive association with the experience of reading.
- With this program the Library will reach our very youngest community members, fostering a life-long love of books, reading, and learning.
Resources
For more information about early literacy, please visit
- 1,000 Books Foundation
- Ohio Department of Education, Getting Ready for Kindergarten
Booklists and suggested reading
Please note there is no required reading for this program. These lists are only suggestions for participants looking for something new.
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – sign up to receive free books mailed to your child from birth to age five! Launched in 1995, in 2022 the Imagination Library began mailing 2 million books each month to children around the world.
- The Children’s Reading Foundation
- School Library Journal Best of 2022 Picture Books
- ALA Caldecott Medal Books
- Jbrary 2022 Favorite Storytime Picture Book
- NY Public Library Great Children’s Book Recommendations
- School Library Journal A Fuse #8 Production