The East Baton Rouge Parish Library has launched a program for infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their parents to encourage exposure to reading at an early age and make it a lifelong habit fo
r children.
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program is just what its name describes. The goal is for parents to have read 1,000 books to their young children before they start kindergarten. That may sound like a lot of books at first, but it’s really easy! If parents read just one book a night to their children, that equals 365 books a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. With most children starting kindergarten at age 5, you’ll have a lot more books read by then than you’ll need – which isn’t a bad thing ever.
Have a child who wants to read that favorite, torn-up dinosaur book over and over again? No worries. Each time you read it, it counts! So the concept is simple, the program is easy, and the rewards are priceless. All you need is perseverance, creativity, and the ability to make reading exciting for a child.
Parents can enroll in the program at your local EBRPL branch’s Children’s Room. Any of our 14 branches’ Children’s Room Library staff can offer book title suggestions, too. And when your child reaches the goals of 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 books, your East Baton Rouge Parish Library will have special reading incentive gifts just for them. They include:
- 250 books – A special sticker and a book bag
- 500 books – A special sticker and a decal of “Bear Reading to Friends”
by Will Hillenbrand - 750 books – A special sticker and a poster of “Bear Reading to Friends”.
- 1,000 books – A special sticker and a certificate of merit, a copy of the book Off We Go! by Will Hillenbrand and an invitation to a special party to be held every August at the Main Library at Goodwood for those who complete the program.
The program ends when your child reaches 1,000 books OR starts kindergarten. But the gift of reading lasts a lifetime! For more information, contact Children’s Coordinator Pabby Arnold at 231-3761 or parnold@ebrpl.com, visit your local Library branch, or log on to our website.