Any child ages 0-5 who is not yet in kindergarten can sign up for this program. There is no minimum age requirement.
Depending on how many books you read each week, the program may take anywhere from a few months to a few years to complete.
This program is just for our youngest readers ages 0-5 who haven’t started kindergarten yet.
However, we have lots of other exciting reading opportunities for older readers! School age readers can participate in reading challenges and events throughout the year and our annual summer reading program is open to all ages, babies through adults.
In-Person: Visit any KCPL location to register.
Online: Use Beanstack to sign up.
If you already have a Beanstack account, login online or through the app. Choose or add the reader you want to register, then select "KCPL 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Reading Challenge" in the Current Programs tab and select "Join Challenge."
If you are new to Beanstack, you can create a free account in just a few minutes. In the Create an Account section, choose "Register an Individual or Family" and follow the prompts to sign up. Once your child is registered as a reader, select "KCPL 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Reading Challenge" in the Current Programs tab and select "Join Challenge."
After you sign up, you can track your reading online using Beanstack or you can use the printed paper log.
To track your progress on the go, download the Beanstack app on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Yes. If you and your child read a book multiple times, you can count the book each time you read it.
Yes. Any book read to your child—by anybody—counts.
Yes. We encourage you to involve the whole family! If an older child reads to their sibling, you can count that, too.
No. Any book you read counts.
No. You can sign up without a library card.
If you would like to get a library card, you can apply online or in-person at any KCPL location.
Yes, absolutely!
Yes. As long as your child listens to the whole book, you can count audiobooks.
Library staff are always happy to recommend books!
Just stop by any KCPL location and let us know you are looking for books to read as part of the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. We will make sure you find lots of wonderful reads!
Yes! Reading together is the single most important thing you can do to turn your children into lifelong readers. Developing reading skills begins at birth and continues throughout the toddler and preschool years. The best way to start building the skills children need in order to learn to read is for someone to read to them regularly.
Don’t worry! This program is designed to be at your own pace and your main goal should be to make reading together a fun and positive experience.
It’s okay if your child doesn’t feel like reading one day or if you decide to skip a day. You can always pick back up where you left off when the time is right for you and your child.
Yes! We believe in you and the math says you can do it, too:
If you read one book a day, you can read over 1,000 books in 3 years.
If you read ten books a week, you can read over 1,000 books in 2 years.
If you read twenty books a week, you can read over 1,000 books in 1 year.
