So far, 87 children have completed the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program through the Clermont County Public Library. Pictured are program finishers who attended the 2019 Ready to Read Festival Sept. 21 at the Miami Township Library. Photo provided.

Reading is the best way to get your child ready for school, and the library offers a simple, fun, and free way to help meet this goal. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a self-paced program in which children ages 0-6 can track their reading progress and earn prizes from any of the 10 Clermont County Public Libraries.

Sign up at any branch or online at https://www.clermontlibrary.org/1bk/, and visit any branch to receive your starter tote bag, which will contain your child’s first log sheet. Each log sheet has 100 circles to fill in by coloring, stickers, or any method that works best for you. There’s no need to record the name of each book, and each time you read the same book, it counts for a new circle. After each log sheet is full, bring it to the library, where your child can select a prize and receive a sticker and a new log sheet. Prizes alternate between award ribbons and the choice of a toy or a book, so your child has the chance to receive up to five free books over the course of the program.

The goal number for 1000 books comes from the popular recommendation of reading to a child for 20 minutes per day. Although 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is self-paced, if a family decided to read for 20 minutes (or approximately 3 picture books) every single day for one year, they could complete the program in that time.

1000 books may sound daunting at the beginning, so start small. Read your child’s favorite books from home, or visit any library to check out the new items or books on display. Visit a storytime, and count the books that are read to your child at the event. While you’re there, don’t forget that library staff are happy to give recommendations based on your child’s interests – dinosaurs, princesses, trucks, and everything in between. Even reading just one book a day builds your child’s vocabulary and love of reading, so consider signing up for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten today.

Cara Frank is the Youth Services Librarian at the Amelia Library. Her favorite book to read aloud is “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak.