1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

Give your child the tools to become a reader! 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a program that encourages children and caregivers to read books together.

Who can participate in this program?
Any child from birth until he or she enters kindergarten can sign up!

How long will the program take?
This self-paced program may take anywhere from a few months to a few years.

How to Begin: READsquared app logo
Register on the READsquared app or visit allenpubliclibrary.readsquared.com to log your reading. Parents you can create an account first to easily monitor your children's activity. As you read with your child, log every book read, including those shared by caregivers, siblings, teachers and librarians. You can read any books you want in any language - it doesn't have to be from our library! And remember, repetition is great for growing minds, so feel free to read the same book more than once - each time you read counts!

Earn Prizes!
For every 100 books, your child will earn a sticker and prize. To receive the prize, come to the Children's Desk at the library. You will keep doing this until you and your child finish 1,000 books. Once you finish 1,000 books, your child will receive a certificate and special prize book!

Can I really read 1,000 books before Kindergarten?
Yes, it's easy! If you read 3 books each day for a year, that's 1,095 books. Or you could read 1 book a day for 3 years and still reach 1,095 books.  

What if I still have questions?
Feel free to visit us or call Youth Services during open library hours at 214.509.4906.