1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

Remember, if you have not yet registered, there are two ways to participate in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten:

• You can visit a Library location to receive a paper log. Staff will take your information and provide you with a booklet to keep track of all the books your child reads. 
• Or sign up on Beanstack to track books online, the Library’s online reading platform. Just create an account and log books as your child completes them. You can even download the Beanstack app to log books by scanning their barcode with your phone!

Literacy at Home
Toddlers are notoriously a wiggly bunch, and attempting to get one to sit for a story can be a daunting task. However, storytime doesn’t have to be seated and static, nor does it have to feel like a chore. You can make reading engaging and fun in ways that encourage movement and interaction, ensuring that your child will be excited for storytime. 

Here’s some tips from Scholastic and Hearing First for reading to toddlers who won’t sit still:

• Be persistent - Make storytime a habit in your household so that it becomes part of your child’s daily routine. Remember that it’s okay if storytime only lasts for a couple of minutes. The more you read, the more you’ll find that your child will sit for longer and longer periods of time. 
• Incorporate movement - Have your child act out the book. If a character jumps, they jump; if a character dances, they dance. Physical activity can help keep your child engaged as well as connect them to the story. 
• Use Interactive Books - Find books that include flaps, sounds, or unique textures to spark your child’s curiosity. 
• Talk about the pictures - You don’t have to read every word on the page. If you find that your child is particularly interested in a picture, pause the story and take a moment to talk about everything that is happening in the picture. 
• Pick books they love - Try picking books on topics that your child is interested in. Do they love dinosaurs? Trucks? Lions, tigers, or bears? Perfect! Find books that feature these themes. Also, if your child has a favorite book, look up the author and check out some of their other works.  

Book Recommendations
Here are some interactive reads!

• • Boop the Snoot by Ashlyn Antsee
  • From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
  • Ploofby Ben Clanton
  • Bounceby Doreen Cronin
  • Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap
  • Dandelion Magic by Darren Farrell
  • Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson
  • Jump! by Tatsuhide Matsuoka
  • Can You Dance Like A Peacock? by Rekha Rajan
  • Press Here by Hervé Tullet