1000 Books 540x150

"The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children."
     - U.S. Department of Education, Becoming a Nation of Readers

What is 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten?

A year-round reading program designed to help parents prepare their children for school. Research has shown that children get ready to read years before they begin their formal education. An excellent way to get your child ready to learn is to read to them.

Who can participate?

Any child who has not yet entered kindergarten.

How do we participate?

REGISTER!

Sign up for a free Beanstack account and register for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten reading challenge!

Visit https://newportbeachlibrary.beanstack.com/reader365 to get started or download the Beanstack mobile app for Android and iPhone.

For more information about Beanstack, please visit What is Beanstack?

READ Log your reading in Beanstack and earn badges and prizes along the way! Printed reading logs are available to pick up at your preferred library location for personal tracking use if you like.

RETURN to the library after logging your reading in Beanstack and you'll get a prize for every 50 books read. 

REPEAT until you reach 1,000 books!

Why participate?

Love of Reading

Reading with your child and making it a special time together shows them that reading is valuable and enjoyable. You can start to develop a love of reading in your child from a very young age!

Ready to Read

You are your child's first teacher and your home is where your child begins to learn. When you talk, sing, read, write, and play you are helping your child get ready to read!

School Readiness

Parents want to prepare their children for school and the best way to do this is to set a good example by getting into the habit of reading.

Is it possible to read 1,000 books?

Yes! Completion will take from a few months to a few years, depending on how often you read.

1 book a day for 3 years = 1095 books

10 books a week for 2 years = 1040 books

3 books a day for 1 year = 1095 books

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we have to read books from the library?

No, but we have a lot of great, free books to make use of. Need ideas? View our suggested Booklists.

I read the same story every night to my child. Can I count that book more than once?

Yes! There is value in repetition when developing language skills.

What if my child listens to an audiobook?

That counts too!

We have several children. Can I count the same title for each child?

You sure can!

Can I count a storytime book?

Yes, and you may also count books read in daycare or preschool.

My older children read to their siblings. Can I count those books?

Count any books that are read to your child, no matter who does the reading.