Building a love of reading has been the goal of the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program for many years. It is now one of the library's most popular youth reading programs, and beginning this year, there will be several exciting updates including a new display and new prizes.

For every 200 books that are read, children will get a prize book. After 1,000 books are read, participants can stop by the library to get their final prize book. They can also put their name on a customized magnet that will be featured on Kids' World's new 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten display.

"The goal of 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is simply to encourage parents and caretakers to read to their young children," said Early Learning Librarian Allison Parker. "Research shows that reading to children is one of the best ways to prepare them for future academic success. And reading experiences are also bonding activities."

The more books children ages 0-5 hear, the more prepared they will be to learn how to read, which is what Arlington Heights resident Cassie Bychowski experienced with her 4-year-old daughter Violet.

"We started really early in infancy, reading her books. Before naptime, after naptime, before bedtime. We'd probably read five books a day to her as an infant, and I think that grew into the love of books that she has today," Bychowski said. Bychowski and her daughter completed the program after two years in November 2025.

Four-year-old Tino Cirone also recently completed 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten with his family.

"It's really fun because it became part of his bedtime routine. It became almost like a tradition," Tino's father Michael Cirone said. "His great grandpa, his Papa Bud, he's in Arlington Heights and he loves reading too, and he always comes to the library. That's why Tino likes to read too, because of his Papa."

"The Great Dinosaur Sleepover," Tinos aid when asked what his favorite book was. "He likes books about dinosaurs and trucks," Michael added.

New in 2026, parents and caregivers who help their child participate in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten will also get a gift card to a local business for completing the program. "We wanted to offer a small thank-you gift to the caretaker for raising a future reader," Parker said.

Families can log their progress in Beanstack at ahml.beanstack.org, or use a paper log, which is available at the Kids' World Desk."If you just log it, it really becomes part of your routine and then when you complete it, you're like 'whoa, I just completed a huge task,'" Bychowski said. "[It's] just a book a day."

Learn more about 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten at ahml.info/kids/reading.