What is the 1000 Books B4 Kindergarten program?
1000 Books B4 Kindergarten (1000B4K) is a program that encourages families to read at least 1,000 books with their child before they enter kindergarten. This free program is an initiative launched by the Georgia Public Library Service in support of early literacy.
Why should my child participate?
It will help them enter school ready to learn! Research confirms that exposing children to books before they begin kindergarten helps in the development of language and literacy skills. These skills will help them be more successful in the classroom. It is also a great way to spend quality time with your child. And it’s fun!
Who can participate?
Our 1000 Books B4 Kindergarten program is for young children who have not yet entered kindergarten. It is for any child aged birth-kindergarten. Children do not have to live in Cobb County to participate.
How does it work?
Register for 1000 Books B4 Kindergarten today on Beanstack. Beanstack is an online reading tracker for your whole family. Download the Beanstack (by Zoobean) app to make logging even easier! (for Apple) (for Android)
You may also visit any Cobb County Public Library to register your child for this free program. Want to keep track with pencil and paper? Download a print log.
Each time your child finishes 100 books, visit a library branch to pick up a special badge to celebrate the milestone. We will congratulate them with a different animal badge at each 100 book milestone. Attach your child’s badge to their book bag, diaper bag, or even their stroller to show off their reading progress!
Reading 1,000 books before kindergarten is a reachable goal. If you read just one book a day with your child, they will have read 1,095 books in three years. By reading just three books a day you will have read over 1,000 books in one year with your child. Books read at library storytime count! And so do favorites that are read over and over!
Why Cobb County?
There are more than 50,000 children under age 5 in Cobb County. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends reading and engaging in conversations regularly with young children to encourage brain development and strengthen parent-child relationships to build language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime.
