1000 Stories Before Kindergarten
Help your child learn the early literacy skills needed for success in school! 1000 Stories Before Kindergarten is a self-paced program for parents with young children. Parents can track their child’s reading progress throughout the first years of life, and children receive stickers and prizes as they advance. Every story you read with your child moves you one step closer to your goal of 1,000 stories!
Reading regularly with young children supports brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships. Your child builds language, literacy and social skills when you read aloud. Children who enter kindergarten with essential pre-reading skills have an advantage. They start school ready to learn to read and have greater success throughout their school years.
How It Works
How does 1000 Stories Before Kindergarten work? This program is easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Register. Register your child online. Any child from birth until the start of kindergarten can participate in the program. When you sign up, you’ll receive a package in the mail* with welcome information, a halfway incentive prize and reading progress stickers.
- Log Your Reading. Download the Reading Log sheets from the links below to print at home. Each time you read a story with your child, check off a box on the appropriate reading log sheet. If your child wants to hear the same story more than once, check off one box for each time you read that story. You can log stories read at home, stories read to children during preschool or daycare hours, and even stories read at a library storytime.
- Track Your Success! Download the Reading Tracker sheet from the links below and use it to celebrate your milestones as you progress to 1,000 stories. For every 50 stories you read with your child, place a sticker on the appropriate circle on the Reading Tracker. When you reach 500 stories, you can reward your child with the halfway prize. Read 1,000 stories and your child will receive a special completion prize! Claim your completion prize here.
*Package mailout applies to customers with mailing addresses in our service area only.
Downloads
- Reading Log Sheets Use these to count the stories you read. Check off one box every time you complete a story. (Ten sheets in all.)
- Reading Tracker Sheet Track your reading success with this sheet! Every time you complete 50 stories, place a sticker on the appropriate circle on tracker. (One sheet)
1000 Stories Before Kindergarten Newsletter
Subscribe to FVRL’s 1000 Stories e-newsletter! Each month you’ll receive early literacy information, reading tips, book lists and fun activities that parents and children can enjoy together.
- 1000 Stories participants can subscribe when they register online for the 1000 Stories program. (Check the “subscribe” box at the bottom of the form.)
- To receive the newsletter without program registration, subscribe here.
- View past issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this program for?
The 1000 Stories program is for families with babies and young children before they enter Kindergarten.
1,000 stories is a lot. Can we really do it?
It sounds daunting, but regularly reading just a few stories at a time from birth to Kindergarten will get you past that goal. Three stories a day adds up to 1,095 in a year! If you read just 10 stories a week for two years, that is 1,040 stories!
Why 1,000 stories?
Research shows that early literacy activities like sharing stories build vocabulary, increase reading readiness, and encourage positive attitudes and habits around reading that stay with children as they grow. Reading 1,000 stories is a challenging, but achievable goal. If you read more than 1,000 stories with your child before he or she starts school, that's even better!
How long will the program take to complete?
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 and your child read together.
Can I count stories I read to my child before I registered?
It's great that you've already starting reading stories with your child! This program begins for your family on the day you register, and you only count stories you read after registering.
Is there a list of books that we are supposed to read?
No, but if you are having trouble choosing books for your child, library staff can help. You can also check out our monthly newsletter with lots of great reading suggestions!
My child likes to hear the same story over and over again. How do I count that?
Check off a box in your reading log every time you read a story. If you read the same story ten times, check off ten boxes. Repetition is the key to learning!
Can I count books that are read to my child at storytime, daycare, or by other family members?
Yes, any book that is read to your child by anybody counts. You can also count stories that you make up and tell to your child.
Do the stories have to be library books?
No, any story you read or tell counts, whether it's from a library book, your own book, your friend's book, or your imagination!
My child likes to listen to stories on the computer/iPad/eReader/etc. Can I count them?
Yes!
My child doesn't always listen to the whole story. Can I still count it?
Yes! Babies, toddlers and preschoolers have varying attention spans and not all stories will interest all readers.
My child likes to move. He or she won't sit still for a book.
This is completely normal! Young children like to explore and play. Reading aloud while they are playing nearby still builds their literacy and vocabulary skills as they hear new words said aloud.
My child and I enrolled in 1000 Stories program at our library, and we are partway through the program. Do we need to register online?
You don’t need to register online; you may continue as before by bringing your reading log to your library to collect stickers and prizes. However, if you wish to avoid coming to the library (due to inconvenience or social distancing), you are welcome to
register online. We will send you a welcome package with completion stickers and halfway prize, so you can do everything at home. If you are already following the program and wish to add yourself to our newsletter mailing list,
subscribe here.
Customer Survey
Are you participating in the 1000 Stories Before Kindergarten program? Then we want to hear from you! We created 1000 Stories to help your child learn the early literacy skills needed for success in school. We're always working to improve the program, and you can help. Tell us about your experience!
