It’s never too early to start reading to babies, toddlers and preschoolers to help develop early literacy skills. Research shows children become readers on the lap of a caring adult and the more books children ages 0-5 hear, the more prepared they will be to learn how to read later on.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a reading program for young children that began at the library in September 2014. Last year 38 area preschools and 702 individuals participated. Although 1000 books sounds like a lot, it’s only three shared reading sessions a day for a year. So how does it work?
• Start reading and counting.
• Drop by Kids’ World to check in and receive prizes.
• The program continues until your child enters kindergarten.
• Find more details at ahml.info/1000books.
How to Grow a Reader
- Reading aloud to your child is the single most important thing you can do to help your child be ready to read.
- We can help you find age-appropriate titles and topics for your child. Ask a librarian for help in choosing books for your baby, toddler or preschooler.
- You are your child’s first and best teacher. Children learn best through playful interaction with a caring adult.
- Talk, sing, read, write and play! Engaging in these five practices with your child will help him or her develop early literacy skills.
- To learn more, sign up for our quarterly Ready to Read eNewsletter.