Read 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten? Cleveland Heights-University Heights Libraries Say Yes

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH - A national literacy movement is taking hold at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library. Starting in January, the library system will join the 1,000 Books before Kindergarten program.

The program is easy to understand. Parents and caretakers will try to read 1,000 books to their child before they start kindergarten. Before you start panicking, the number is more intimidating than it sounds. Youth Services Librarian Maggie Kinney, one of the staffers leading the program, broke it down like this: If you read one book a night to your child, you'll have hit more than 600 literary adventures before your child is two.

Plus, there's no rules saying you can't read the same book each night. If your little one adores Dr. Seuss, particularly "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (given the time of year), you can read that book over and over.

“We end up reading Pat the Bunny at least five times in a row in my house,” Kinney says.

The goal of the program is to promote literacy and to expose children to literature from an early age. Specifically, Kinney believes that reading to a child can create an association of positivity between books and children. More practically, the practice also expands a child's vocabulary and early literacy skills, helping them excel when they hit kindergarten.

If you want to join the program, the library staff will provide you with an activity sheet to track your child's reading progress. For every 100 books read, children will get a sticker to put on a caterpillar mural (available any any branch). There are also plans for prizes and activities to commemorate the program.

If you're more digital leaning, there's an app for Apple or Droid users called "1,000 Books before Kindergarten" that you can download.

For more information, visit this link or stop in at the Coventry, Lee Road, or Noble Neighborhood branches.

Photo from Cleveland Heights-University Heights Libraries