CARIBOU, Maine — The Caribou Public Library has recently joined a nationwide program encouraging parents to read 1,000 books to their children before they enter kindergarten.
Children’s Librarian Erin Albers hosted a kick-off event on Wednesday, Oct. 10, and since then over a dozen parents have signed up, with some having read more than 100 books so far.
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative was created to help children learn vocabulary skills before entering schools by introducing them to books at an early age, as well as to promote a “lifelong love of books and reading,” according to a release sent by the library.
Albers said that parents can keep track of their books either on paper or via an application they can download to their smartphone or computer tablet that allows them to scan the ISBN number and store their progress online.
“You can count one book as many times as you want,” said Albers. “If a child wants a book read more than once, you can read it to them on three different occasions and count it three times. If they go to the library or to their grandparents’ house, they can count that as well.”
She said that while the goal may sound daunting it can easily be accomplished in a year if there is intention behind it and parents read three books a night to their children. The program could be done in less than three years by reading just one book a night.
“If you start a year before kindergarten you have to be intentional about it,” she said, “but it is still definitely doable.”
Albers said one parent already has shown her her progress on the app, and that she has read 140 books to her child over the course of just a couple weeks.
Parents are given a sheet with ten spots where they can place stickers for every 100 books read. Once they hit 1,000 books, Albers said parents will be given a certificate with the child’s name, and that one of the library’s new books will have a placard placed in front with the child’s name in honor of their completing the program.
With 15 signed up so far, Albers said she is looking forward to more community engagement in the program.
“I’m excited,” she said, “and people seem to be very interested in doing it. It’s easy to keep track of, and will hopefully encourage parents who maybe don’t read to their children all the time to start.”
