**Read 4 books a week, and your child will have listened to 1,000 stories in five years.
**Read one book a day, and you could finish in less than three years.
**Read ten books per week, and you’ll blow away this challenge in less than two years!

We are excited to announce a new program for preschoolers called “1000 Books Before Kindergarten”! Research shows that reading books and sharing stories with your child is one of the best ways to help them enter school with the language skills they need to be ready to learn and grow. So all you need to do is pick up a log in the children’s area (or download and print one here!) and start checking off books! No need to write titles, just keep a tally on the log, and every 50 books your child will get stickers. At 1000, your child will receive a certificate and can add their name to our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten display.

Get Ready! Get Set! READ!

Brain development and literacy 101

Understanding Reading Levels and Good Fit (Guided Reading Levels, Lexile, AR and DRA) and finding a “Good Fit” or “Just Right” book. — Use this guide if you’re looking to understand some of the popular “leveling” systems, how to find a “good fit” book, and for a website to help you look up specific book titles actual levels.

We know that it’s not always an easy feat to get guys interested in reading. Imagine, if you will, the following scenario: Your son has a book report, research paper, or you in any way suggest he pick up a book and read. *gasp* We’re guessing if you’re like any of the parents we’ve talked to over the years, your imaginary self responded in one of three ways: 1) uncontrollable laughter (at the absurdity of your son acquiescence to your wise advice), 2) tears of/head-banging in frustration, or 3) the defeated image of you waving the white surrender flag. Any way you imagine it, it seems impossible!

So we’ve put together a few resources to explain the way boys brains develop differently, how it affects their “approach” to reading, including formats and genres, and ways that you can encourage your male reader. And if you stop in, we’ll be glad to help you tailor some of this information to your son!

Tips to encourage male readers

Jon Scieszka’s Guy Reads– Jon Scieszka, author of Stinky Cheese Man and the Time Warp Trio, whose website focuses on boys and literacy. Scieszka was the Library of Congress’ first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, serving 2008-2009.