1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is based upon numerous studies that have shown that a child needs to hear at least 1,000 books before they are ready to read. One of the best ways to encourage a love of books and reading is by spending special time each day sharing books together. Reading together helps a child develop important pre-reading skills; skills that are crucial to success in school when they get older. Upon registration, families receive a tote bag and paper tracking log to track each 100 books with small incentives along the way. This program is generously funded by the Murray Foundation.

 

Books Before is a self-paced program that picks up where 1000 Books Before Kindergarten ends.  Families or individual students can set a reading goal for how many books they want to attempt before their next big educational milestone. For an elementary student, their next big leap is middle school. For middle school students, the next step is high school, and for high school students, graduation.  Upon registration, students get a bookmark to mark off a circle for each book read with bookish themed incentives for every 25 books. This program is generously funded by the Burlington/West Burlington Optimist Club to encourage reading at every level.