Here, at Schmaling, we value early literacy and want to help you teach your children to love books from birth! That’s why we have a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program!

Program Overview

The concept is simple, the rewards are priceless. Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, toddler, and/or preschooler. The goal is to have 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books) before your precious one starts kindergarten. Does it sound hard? Not really, if you think about it. If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you have more time than you think. So get started!

Who Can Participate?

Anyone can do a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program of their own. However, to participate in and qualify for the prizes from Schmaling’s program, the child or the parent or caregiver sponsoring the child must reside within the limits of the River Bend School District. Participants are not required to have a Schmaling Library card, but it is strongly encouraged! To find out if you qualify for a Schmaling card, contact Schmaling, at fulpublib@mchsi.com.

How to Participate

· Read with your child. Studies have shown that reading with your child provides a great opportunity for bonding. Reading together is fun and will create life-long memories for both of you.

· Keep track of the number of books you read with your child. For each book you read (or repeat), fill in a circle on your reading log sheet found in your registration packet. Out of these books, please write down your top 5 favorites for us!

· If you are able, make sure to fill in a circle on your log sheet for any book that is read to your child. This includes those read by teachers, caregivers, siblings, etc.

· Once you read 100 books, turn your log sheet back in at the library and pick up a new log sheet . Your child will receive a prize. When you reach the 1000 book level, your child will receive a book and a certificate of achievement and you will receive a reading journal for all the hard work you put in! You’re a reading super-hero!

If you’d like to register your child for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program, just send an email to fulpublib@mchsi.com. You can download a log sheet here:

You can also visit the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten website for more fun early literacy activities you can do with your young ones!