Greene County, OH: Greene County Public Library is encouraging parents to start the new year off right by making a resolution to read 1000 books to their child. The resolution to read is part of the library’s decision to launch a new early literacy initiative called 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.
The concept is simple: Parents can read any book to their baby, toddler, or preschooler. Parents can then either keep track of their reading by using the online tracking system available through the library’s website or by picking up a paper form at any of the seven community locations. The goal is to have read 1000 books before the child starts kindergarten.
“One thousand books may sound like a lot,” says Fairborn Head of Youth Services, Caitlin Wichterman. “But if you cuddle up with your child and read one book per night, you’ll be done in less than three years. Reading and rereading favorite stories, which children love to do, also counts towards the goal. The repetition helps cement vocabulary and deepens the understanding of the story.” Wichterman also notes that reading is encouraged by children earning a small prize for every 100 books read. At the halfway point of 500 books, they receive a prize book. Once they complete, the child receives a prize pack as well as a certificate of completion.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is the latest literacy effort from Greene County Public Library. The library has already made strides with early literacy by distributing over 250,000 books to 10,000 Greene County children under age five through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
For more information about the library’s early literacy programs or to enroll in 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, visit greenelibrary.info/early-literacy.
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CONTACT: Ryan Ireland, Communications Coordinator, 937-736-7081
