York County Libraries is celebrating its young readers and families on Saturday, January 25 in The Family Place at Martin Library in York. The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Midway Celebration runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event is free and is geared to children from birth through five and their families.
The celebration includes:
- Storytelling & Book Signing by authors Anthony D. Fredericks & M.J. McCluskey
- STEAM Stations for families to explore and experiment
- Achievement Prizes & Passport Stamps for current participants
- 1000 Books Program Registration
- Refreshments
“We are six months away from our 2020 graduation ceremony, so we thought a 1000 Books Midway Celebration would be a fun way to encourage our library families to keep reading! There is still time to start this year, reading and logging books, to reach the goal by July.” – Paula Gilbert, York County Libraries Director of Youth Services
About YCL’s 1000 Books
YCL’s program is an offshoot of a national initiative that encourages parents to read 1000 books with their children before they start Kindergarten. Research has shown that reading to infants boosts their vocabulary and reading skills four years later, right before they start school.
“The key is creating a routine of reading together. A parent is a child’s first teacher and at home is where a child begins to learn. Not only does reading create a connection between parent and child, but academically the effort is well worth it.”
– Paula Gilbert, York County Libraries Director of Youth Services
Families read at their own pace and reaching the goal of reading 1000 books is doable. It can be done in as little as one year by simply reading 3 books a day. Parents who want to take less time or longer can do so.
- Children from the day they are born to the day they start kindergarten can participate.
- There is no cost, and all that is needed to participate is a free York County Libraries card.
- Registration is ongoing at local libraries and families receive a passport to help track progress at each 100-book milestone.
- When participants reach 500 and 1,000 books, they are awarded special reading incentives at their library.
Graduation Time
York County Libraries launched the program in 2018 and held its first graduation ceremony for 68 children in August of 2019. All totaled, this group read 72,443 books. Children who reach or surpass the 1,000 books reading goal by July 1, 2020 can take part in the second graduation ceremony on July 30, 2020.
Thank You to Our Partners!
The York County Libraries “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” initiative is made possible thanks to support by program partners: Stock and Leader, and C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc.