The many benefits of reading to young children are well-documented. The 1000 Books Foundation promotes reading to newborns, infants and toddlers and encourages parent and child bonding through reading. Its 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge is a simple way to do this. Many local libraries promote this initiative and create incentives to participate as part of their youth services programs.
The Rochester Public Library is one example. Parents can register in person at the library or sign up online at https://www.rochesterlibrary.org/1000-books-before-kindergarten/. When signing up, the child receives a small plushie reading buddy. Every book counts, including reading the same book over and over. Parents can record the books using an app or simply keep a paper list. For each 100 books read, the library presents the child with a tag with various designs to add to a chain. The library tracks the child’s progress by moving a pawprint with the child’s name on a display in the children’s area of the library. With parental permission, the library will take the child’s photo with a congratulatory sign and post it on the library’s Facebook page. After reading 1000 books, the child receives the “I read 1000 books tag,” a certificate and another reading buddy plushie. The library orders a book in the child’s name with a nameplate on the inside cover, and the child is the first one to check out the book.
Kate McKenzie is enthusiastic about her family’s experience with the program at the Rochester Public Library. Both McKenzie and her husband are former print journalists and want their son, Ben, to develop a love of reading. They already read to their son regularly, but this program had additional benefits. “A little incentive goes a long way,” McKenzie said. Ben was motivated to read more books to achieve the next milestone. He enjoyed going to the physical library, interacting with the librarian and receiving the rewards. “He really enjoyed that sense of accomplishment,” McKenzie said. “It is a good way to instill a love of reading.”
McKenzie grew up going to her community’s library, and she loves introducing her son to a positive library experience. She believes libraries are still important places, with so many valuable resources beyond books. Ben turned 5 in late January and met his 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge. The experience made them all proud of their collective accomplishment.
Ben McKenzie receives his 1000 Books Before Kindergarten recognition at Rochester Public Library.
PHOTO COURTESY KATE MCKENZIE
Springfield’s Lincoln Library also participates in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge, as well as 50 books before middle school, 100 books before graduation and other reading incentive initiatives. Coloring pages are provided to turn in for every 100 books read. Each coloring page submitted earns one token. Each token can be used to select one book from the library’s “Inchy Bookworm Vending Machine” to take home and keep. The vending machine is colorful and filled with new and like-new books suitable for infants through young adults. Books are donated by the public and the Lincoln Library Alliance. It was purchased with the support of the Lincoln Library Foundation.
Children from birth to age 17 can earn tokens in a variety of ways. These include completing challenges created by the library’s youth services program, celebrating a birthday, obtaining their first library card and for every 100 books read as part of the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge. The token system provides a tangible reading incentive. Denise Fisher, operations coordinator for Lincoln Library, said it was a labor of love to pursue getting this book vending machine for the library. She says it encourages the love of books and also is a way for kids to start their own library at home.
Molly Dunlap, Lincoln Library youth services manager, encourages parents to read to kids. She says that children who are read to at a young age learn a lifelong love of reading. For more information, visit the Youth Services area at the Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St., or call 217-753-4900.
To participate in the 1000 book challenge at the Chatham Public Library, go to https://www.chathamlib.org/1000-books. Register on the library’s Beanstack app to log books read. For every 100 books, parents can print an activity sheet with an early learning activity and bring that to the library for the child to receive a sticker. Upon completing the 1000 book challenge, the child can select a book to keep. Additional resources and tips for reading to young children are provided on the library’s website.
For more information about 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, along with reading lists and other educational resources for parents about phonics, go to https://1000booksbeforekindergarten.org/.
Karen Ackerman Witter enjoyed reading to her kids when they were little and now enjoys reading some of the same books to her grandchildren. She learned about 1000 Books Before Kindergarten from Kate McKenzie, the development director for NPR Illinois, who she met while serving on the NPR Illinois Community Advisory Board.
This article appears in Parent Spring 2026.
