Did you know that one of the most important predictors for academic success is the amount of books read to a child in the home during early childhood?
Fast track your child to early literacy with our 1000 books before Kindergarten Challenge!
This program is self-paced. There is no start or end date. The only requirement is that your child be younger than Kindergarten age! You may start as early as the day your little one comes home.
Reading to your children helps them build the skills they will need to learn to read. It can also help the bond between parent and child and build social emotional skills long before the child is reading for themselves.
Decorah Public Library partners with Beanstack to help you track your child’s reading digitally.
You can download the Beanstack Tracker app, or use our website at https://decorahlibrary.beanstack.com
Signing up is free!
Can I use a paper reading log instead?
You will still need to sign up for a Beanstack account and input your reading there in order to complete the challenge and receive prizes. You are welcome to keep a paper log and then batch log in Beanstack periodically. (You can batch log without inputting titles, just listing the number of books you have read.) This is a long-term program, so keeping track of records electronically allows us to limit our paper usage and ensure no data gets lost.
I don’t have a Smartphone, tablet, computer, or internet access. How can I participate?
The library has public computers that you can use for all your Beanstack needs. Staff are available to assist you.
Can I count the same book more than once?
Yes, many children love to repeat books, the important thing is that you are sitting down and reading together. You may count a book as many times as you read it!
When is the deadline to finish 1000 books?
The deadline is your child’s first day of kindergarten.
Do I need a library card to participate?
No, a library card is not required to participate. However, having a library card gives you access to thousands of books for free!
What are the prizes?
At 100 books, you will get a DPL sticker to adorn your water bottle, stroller, or other favorite item! At 500 books, you win some DPL Swag (rotating items), and at 1000 books you get a special 1000 Books Before Kindergarten item and a certificate commemorating your accomplishment!
The six early literacy skills are Sing, Talk, Read, Write, and Play. These skills, taught before a child begins reading, strengthen a child’s ability to learn letters, sounds, and other literacy skills once they get to Kindergarten, or even earlier! This program focuses on the read skill, but all of these skills can be practiced as you make your way to 1000 books. The following are some terms and skills to be aware of as you help your child prepare to learn to read. (Via Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy.)
Print Motivation: Being interested in and enjoying books. The desire to read/look at books and be read to.
Skill Building:
- Read books your child likes.
- Allow your child to select books.
- Stop reading if your child loses interest. Length of time is not important, enjoyment is!
Print Awareness: The recognition of print and the understanding that print carries meaning, that books contain letters and words. Additionally, the understanding of a book and its mechanics, such as identifying the cover, understanding that text is read left to right, and turning pages.
Skill Building:
- Pick out board books that your child can handle on their own. Encourage them to help you turn the pages, or open and close the book.
- Point to words as you read them.
- Point out print when you are not reading books together, on signs, clothing, etc.
Letter Knowledge: Knowing that letters are different from each other, knowing letter names and sounds, and recognizing letters everywhere.
Skill Building
- Read ABC books, and sing the alphabet song.
- Talk about and draw the letters of your child’s name.
- Play “I Spy” games to identify letters.
Vocabulary: Knowing and understanding many different words.
Skill Building:
- Speak conversationally with your child.
- Explain the meaning of unfamiliar words.
- Read books! Studies show that picture books use a wider vocabulary than typical spoken conversation.
Phonological Awareness: Hearing and playing with the smaller sounds of words.
Skill Building:
- Sing songs, as they tend to break up syllables per note.
- Recite rhymes, which often switch out letters and ending sounds.
- Pick a sound for the day and notice it at the beginning or end of words.
Narrative Skills: Describing things and events, understanding the order of events.
Skill Building:
- Ask your child open-ended questions that encourage conversations, avoid yes or no questions.
- Talk about your day and its series of events.
- Read wordless picture books and talk through them as you read.
Incorporate reading into your daily routine.
If you start at birth, and read one book per day, you would complete the 1000 books challenge before your child turns two and a half! Breaking the challenge up across time not only makes it feel more manageable but builds habits that will serve your child for years to come. Routines are a healthy part of early childhood, so make daily read alouds a part of yours!
Lean into what your child likes.
No book is any more valuable than another, as far as early literacy is concerned. Stick to what your child likes in order to make reading together a joyful habit. If it’s trucks your kiddo loves, check out our “Things That Go” shelf. Princesses? Check out “Classic Stories” and “Fables.” Our “Popular Characters” shelf holds Disney, Bluey, and many more popular commercial characters all in one place. Allow them to choose reading materials—this encourages print motivation, and will help your child find satisfaction when a book they chose is read to them.
Slow Down.
Children’s brains process language a bit more slowly than ours do, so don’t be afraid to take your time as you read. Enunciate difficult consonants and words, repeating and defining them if necessary. Remember that some of these words your child has never heard before (picture books are fantastic vocabulary builders!) and they may need some clarification in order to fully understand the story.
Share the task!
1000 books, though manageable, is still a lot of books! Share the task of logging with other trusted readers in your child’s life. Older siblings, Grandparents, babysitters, and daycare providers can all help to show your child how much fun reading can be! Check out the library calendar for weekly storytime schedules, and count those books in your totals. Listen to audiobooks on road trips! (Winneshiek County residents have access to free audiobooks through Libby with your library card!) There are so many ways to complete this program, and it doesn’t have to be a slog!