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1000 Books Before Kindergarten

The concept is simple, the rewards are priceless.


This literacy program is based on a simple but powerful fact: children who are read to at home are better prepared for school and continue to do well throughout their time in school. Kids who are read only one book a day will hear about 290,000 more words by age 5 than those who don’t regularly read with a parent or caregiver. 


This program is for children from ages 0-5 who have not started kindergarten.

How Parents Can Sign-up:

  • Download the Beanstack app on your mobile device or on sign-up on desktop. 
  • If you are a new user, create an account and set Three Rivers Public Library District as your library.
  • Create a profile for your child. Then, on your chlid's profile, go to Challenges and click Join for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.

How the program works:

  • Log the books you read to and with your child in Beanstack. Every book counts, including audiobooks, digital books, or books read aloud by others. You can even log each time you re-read a favorite book!
  • For every 100 books read, your child will earn a badge in Beanstack.
  • When you reach 1000 books, contact our Youth Services Department at [email protected]. We'll send you info on how to claim a special prize pack, book and certificate of completion for your child! 

Tips for reading fun:

  • Make it exciting!  Try using different voices for characters or giving inflection when there is an action happening.
  • Make your own milestone rewards. Our program gives virtual badges for every 100 books read. For extra encouragement, you can find fun ways to reward your child, such as stickers or an extra trip to the playground!
  • Need help finding more books to read? Stop in at your library to ask for reccomendations or check out this 1KBBK recommended reading list available here!

1000 Books Before Kindergarten
  • FAQ's
    • Can I register my child, even if they're not old enough to start learning to read? What if they are almost ready to start Kindergarten?

      As soon as your child is born, you can sign them up for the program and start logging books you read aloud to them. Even if your child nearing Kindergarten age, you can still participate and potentially finish the program. The key is to just start reading!

    • 1000 books seems like a lot! How can we reach that goal?

      1000 books is a lot, but it's not as daunting a task as it may seem! 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. 

      Helpful tips:

      • Every book counts, even those read by others, board books, digital books, etc.
      • You can also log each instance you re-read a favorite book! Why? Repetition is also a helpful way children gain confidence in learning to connect the words they hear (and the sounds that make up those words) to words they see in print. 
      • Make reading time exciting! Try using different voices for characters or just giving inflection when there is an action happening.
      • Make your own milestone rewards.  Our program gives virtual badges to indicate each 100 books read. You can find fun ways on your own to reward your child, such as stickers, a fun treat or small toy, or even just an extra trip to the playground.
      • Need help with what to read? The official 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program created a recommended reading list available here. 
    • Do the books have to be library books?

      No, any book you read counts, whether it's a library book, books from home or books from other libraries!

    • What if my child can already read some books on their own?

      Yes! Reading is an important activity for adults to do with children, but if your child is already reading independently, log books they read on their own or aloud to you!

    • Where do I find Beanstack to start logging?

      Bookmark this direct link to Beanstack or use Beanstack's app, available for Apple and Android devices. If this is your first time using Beanstack, please view this quick 1 minute tutorial to help you get started.Beanstack

      Apple App Store

      Google Play Store

    • How do I use Beanstack?

      Here is 1 min introduction video to help you get started: Beanstack Intro

      If you created a Beanstack account previously for our Summer Reading Program, you can log in using the same username and password. 

      If you need more help, stop in at either library, contact us by email at [email protected], or by phone at 815-467-6200 or 815-467-1600.

    • Can I log more than 1 book at a time in Beanstack?

      Beanstack does allow you to log multiple books at once. However, if you prefer to have a complete list of all the book titles read on your account, then you will need to enter each book separately.

    • Can we count the books we read for Summer Reading toward this program?

      Yes! If you are logging whole books as part of the Summer Reading program, you can also log them for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.

    • My child likes to read the same book over and over again. Can I count that?

      Every book you read with your child counts! If you read the same book 10 times, you can log the same book ten times.

    • My child likes to read or listen to books on the computer/iPad/eReader/etc. Can I log those?

      As long as your child reads or listens to the whole book, you can log it towards their total of 1000 books!  If you are interested in digital books, try Tumblebooks, BookFlix, Libby, Hoopla, and Axis 360 for digital titles available for free with your library card.