To help families foster a love for reading in their young children, the Baldwin Public Library is launching “1,000 Books before Kindergarten.” Studies show that families that start reading aloud to their children at birth help strengthen their language skills, build their vocabulary, and increase fluency. Providing opportunities to learn and develop reading skills, connect caregivers and children, and discover new books are all long-standing goals of the Baldwin Public Library.

Reading is a life skill linked to successful practices throughout childhood and adult life. The more that you read to your child, the better prepared they will be for kindergarten and beyond. Not only does reading with your child provide a special bonding time, but it also encourages your child to enjoy reading and have fun discovering new books.

To sign up for the program, visit the Youth Room reference desk. Participating children will receive a 1,000 Books tote bag along with a silk dance scarf and song sheet with nursery rhymes. Additionally, parents will receive a book tracking log, and a set of helpful tips to develop early literacy skills. For every 250 books that a child reads, he or she will receive an early literacy themed prize. The best benefit of the program is building the reading confidence and letter and word recognition long before children enter the kindergarten classroom.

“I am very excited to bring this enjoyable reading incentive program to Baldwin. We are always looking for ways to come alongside caregivers and encourage them in early literacy practices and this program gives us the opportunity to connect with patrons in a unique way,” said Stephanie Klimmek, Head of Youth Services.

Baldwin Library’s “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program is sponsored the Bob and Jean Kelly Endowment fund, which was started to promote early literacy.

The 1000 Books Foundation is a Nevada 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, which was founded in 2013 to promote reading to newborns, infants and toddlers and seeks to encourage parent-child bonding through reading. The 1000 Books Foundation helps facilitate the implementation of 1000 Books Before Kindergarten reading programs nationwide.