CLAYTON – Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library is issuing a new reading challenge to families of budding bookworms. 1,000 Books before Kindergarten bolsters early literacy skills by encouraging parents and caregivers to read and bond with their babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
The challenge encourages families to read a wide array of books, including board books, picture books, folklore, nursery rhymes, or any other kind of book that captures the interests of their children. The program emphasizes the importance of bonding through reading, allowing for the repetition of favorite books.
“1,000 books sound like a mountain to climb,” said Children’s Librarian Grace Davis, “but stop and consider how often you already read with your little one. If you read three books at bedtime each night, you could finish 1,000 books in less than a year.”
According to Davis, library staff are ready to provide personalized book recommendations tailored to the interests and needs of each child. All the materials in the physical and digital collections are available for free with a library card, and patrons can check out up to 50 items at once. As an additional incentive, participating families will receive a complimentary book and a bag to transport their library materials.
“The key to success is making the moment enjoyable.” said Davis. “This is the best time to build print motivation. Avoid ‘muscling through’ a book when your little one has lost interest. Put it down, come back to it, and pick a new book or activity. Children who have cultivated an enjoyment of books are more likely to keep trying when reading becomes difficult down the road.”
The library has also introduced the Beanstack app to facilitate tracking progress. It administers quick access on mobile devices to log reading minutes and books. By offering engagement and encouragement, this innovative piece of technology motivates families to complete their reading goals and continue coming back to the library for more books.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a recent study indicated kids of parents who read to them at least three times a week are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading compared to children of parents who don’t.
1,000 Books before Kindergarten is made possible thanks to a $15,000 donation from Dollar General to the Friends of the Library – Clayton, NC.
