Sign up for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten:
Sonoma County Library encourages families and caregivers to read 1,000 books with their children before they enter kindergarten. Reading aloud to children from birth helps strengthen language skills and build vocabulary - two important tools for learning to read.
It's easy to reach this important milestone:
- 3 books a day for 1 year = 1,095 books
- 1 book a day for 3 years = 1,095 books
There are three ways to sign up:
- Sign up at any Sonoma County Library Branch and pick up a printed reading log.
If you are eager to begin, click on the fox
to print your first log. - Register on a computer by clicking here.
- Register using a mobile device: download and install the Beanstack Tracker app from Apple iTunes or Google Play.
How to Participate:
Track Your Reading: Each time you read a book with your child, log it on your reading log. You can log online using your Beanstack account, or by marking circles on your paper reading log.
Show us Your Reading Logs: When your child finishes 100 books, bring the completed sheet to the library and have it stamped “completed” and collect the next page. If you're keeping track through Beanstack, come in after your child has received the online "badge" for 100 books. You’ll get a tote bag to carry all the books you're reading!
At each 100 books badge, you can visit the library for a sticker.
Read More Books! When you get all the way to 1,000, you'll receive a new book to take home - and keep!
Frequently Asked Questions
My child likes to read the same book over and over again. How do I count that?
You log each book you read to your child. If you read the same book 10 times, just log the book ten times.
Can I count books that are read to my child in school, or by a nanny or day care provider?
Yes, any book that is read to your child by anybody counts.
Do the books have to be library books?
No, any book you read counts, whether it's a library book, your own book, your friend's book, etc.
What if a child can read before starting kindergarten? Does it count when children read books by themselves?
Reading is an important activity for adults to do with children, so if your child reads to you, that counts too!
My child likes to listen to books on the computer/iPad/eReader/etc. Can I count them?
As long as your child listens to the whole book, it counts!
We participated in the Summer Reading Program in Beanstack. Do I need to register again?
If you already have an account in Beanstack, just log in, go to your child's reader account, and you can register and participate in 1000 Books.
