Washington library pushing for 1,000 books before Kindergarten

WASHINGTON — Library staff have launched their take on a national program designed to emotionally and intellectually prepare families for school, called “1,000 books before Kindergarten.”

The library has purchased several books, backpacks and prizes, with the help of a grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation. Library Director Cary Ann Siegfried said patrons could now check out a backpack (and the books inside) to work toward that 1,000-book goal.

The bags contain 10 preselected books, grouped into popular themes like dinosaurs, bears, or “cars and trucks and things that go.” Siegfried said the system made the library more approachable for parents, especially those that aren’t regular patrons.

“A lot of parents, they don’t know children’s literature,” she said. “They may know that their kid likes dinosaur books, but who are the authors that have dinosaur books out there? … they can easily come in, get that backpack with 10 books, and enjoy those books with their child without having to worry.”

The library has other incentives to keep families and kids motivated on their path to 1,000 books. Siegfried said the library had milestone awards, including a lanyard at 100 books, a free book at 250 and 750, and a book bag of their own at 500. At 1,000 books, kids get their picture taken and posted on a “Reading Wall of Honor,” along with a plate of their favorite book.

Siegfried said exposing kids to 1,000 books before kindergarten set them up for success.

“The more language a child hears earlier in their life, the more prepared they’re going to be when they start kindergarten,” she said. “Being able to share books and literature with a child really expands that language and that vocabulary that a child hears on a regular basis.”

The library director said it would also help bring families together.

“Reading with your child is a great way to really encourage that early love of reading,” she said. “They are going to enjoy sitting on a parent or caregiver’s lap and enjoying a book together. As a result, they associate books and reading with positive experiences.”

Siegfried said the program was made for any pre-K children, regardless of age.

“The idea is, whenever they want to start this program, when their child is six months old, or two-and-a-half, or three years old, families can kind of go at their own pace,” she said.

Amy Langr has entered her son, Theo, in the program. A school librarian herself at WACO, she said it was a good idea.

“It teaches so much more than just reading, it teaches listening and directions,” she said. “He’s only two and a half, so he’s not able to do those things now, but he will be by the time he goes to kindergarten because he’s had access to listening to books.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com