For Kids & Teens

Register

Online: Use Beanstack to sign up and track the number of books you read.

In-Person: Visit any KCPL location to register, and pick up a printed reading log to track the number of books you read.

Start Reading

Find books at the library, explore ebooks and audiobooks in KCPL’s eLibrary, listen to stories at storytime, or read books you already have at home.

If you’d like help finding something to read, we are happy to recommend books – just tell us what interests your child has or what books they already love and we’ll give you personalized suggestions.

Borrow Library Books

Use your library card to check out board books, picture books and more from the library.

Your library card also lets you borrow ebooks from our eLibrary! Some ebooks you can read online and others you can download to a smart phone or tablet. If you need help getting started, please let us know.

If you don’t have a library card yet, you can apply online or in-person at any KCPL location. Please be sure to bring photo ID and proof of address when applying in-person or, if you apply online, the first time you use your new card.

Storytime

Come to storytime and other kindergarten readiness programs to explore books with library staff! Storytime programs for kids ages 0-5 are scheduled throughout the year at all KCPL locations. Please visit our full calendar of events for more dates & details.

Imagination Library

Sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and build your own home library for free! This program is dedicated to inspire young children with a love of reading. Children ages 0-5 are eligible to sign up and will receive a free book in the mail every month until their 5th birthday.

Kent County's Imagination Library is coordinated by the Kent Family Center. Register online or print and mail a paper registration form. If you have questions or need assistance with registration, please contact the Kent Family Center.

Have Fun.
Use different voices, add movement, explore facial expressions, and include props to bring stories to life.

Stay Flexible.
It’s okay to skip parts of a book, read it backwards, only look at the pictures, or not finish a story that isn’t working well for you. You can read aloud to your child even when they are playing with toys or moving around.

Be Prepared.
Have books close by so you’re always ready to read. Keep them in different rooms, put them in your vehicle, and take them on walks. Even a few minutes of reading at a time can bring the joy of reading to your child.

Snuggle Up.
Hold your child while you read and incorporate their favorite toys or comfort items. Reading can be a calming sensory experience for your child and give them feelings of safety and love.

Talk About It.
Point out things in the story that you find interesting. Ask your child questions about the pictures and talk about how they relate to familiar things in your child’s life or home.

Repeat Favorites.
Children love to hear their favorite stories over and over. Repetition is important for developing reading skills, so re-reading a book is a great choice.

Make It A Habit.
Make reading part of your daily routine! Find a time and place that works for you and your child, then show up to read together every day.

Who can sign up for this program?

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.

My child is already in kindergarten or is starting kindergarten soon. Can they sign up?

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.

How do I sign up?

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."

How do I keep track of how many books we read?

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.

My child likes to read the same book over and over again. Does that still count?

Yes. If you and your child read a book multiple times, you can count the book each time you read it.

Can I count books that are read to my child in school or by a caregiver?

Yes. Any book read to your child—by anybody—counts.

I have more than one child in the program. If we all read together, can I count the same book for each child?

Yes. We encourage you to involve the whole family! If an older child reads to their sibling, you can count that, too.

Do the books have to be library books?

No. Any book you read counts.

Do I have to have a library card to sign up?

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.

My child hasn’t started kindergarten yet, but they have started reading. Does it count if my child reads a book independently?

Yes, absolutely!

My child likes to listen to books on a computer/tablet/app. Does that count?

Yes. As long as your child listens to the whole book, you can count audiobooks.

Does the library have any recommendations for books to read as part of this program?

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!

Is it really that important to read to very young children?

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.

What if we miss a day of reading or my child doesn’t seem interested in reading?

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.

Can we really read 1,000 books before kindergarten?

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.