Join the challenge and read 1000 books before the first day of school!
Reading together is the best way to encourage a love of books in your child. Reading daily helps children develop their vocabulary, understanding of themselves and others, and the skills they will need to be successful readers when they start school.
Your Library’s 1000 Books Before School program is all about encouraging reading in whatever way works best for your family. Whether it’s a book you’ve read together at home, a story from kinder, a library Storytime session, or your child’s dog-eared old favourite, log them all in your 1000 Books Before School reading record pack. You’ll also earn rewards at every step of your journey.
There is no fee to join. Simply complete the form below, collect your starter-pack, and start reading!
Why read 1000 books before school?
Early literacy skills are an essential building block for lifelong learning beyond primary and high school.
Research shows that reading with a child several times a week develops their literacy skills up to a year beyond their peers.
It’s easier than you might think to read 1000 books.
If you read three books a day, you can read more than 1000 books in a year. If you read just one book a day, you will finish in less than 3 years.
Repetition is great for developing early literacy skills, so if you read the same book more than once, you can count it each time you read.
Every book counts
Every book that your child completes, or actively listens to, counts. This includes stories read at Storytime sessions, day-care and kindergarten, even the same book over and over again.
Reading or listening? Print or digital?
Borrowing physical books from your local library isn’t the only way Your Library can help you achieve 1000 books before school.
Audiobooks are a fantastic way to keep reading to kids. You can access more than 1,200 children’s audiobooks through our library catalogue.
On top of that, there are thousands and thousands of popular kids’ audiobooks available for free download at any time on the Libby app or BorrowBox app.
You can also watch hundreds of Australia’s favourite children’s book read just for you at Story Box Library. The stories are read by some of Australia’s favourite storytellers, including Justine Clarke, Nick Cave, Missy Higgins, Peter Hitchener, Andy Griffiths, Sally Rippin and many more.
How does it work?
Step 1: Fill out the form below.
Step 2: Collect your reading record pack from your local library.
Step 3: Start reading! Any level, any format, any number of repeat reads.
Step 4: Track your progress, achieve milestones, and collect rewards!
Fill out this form to start your 1000 Books journey!
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