Free Early Learning Club from the Joliet Public Library
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge is a fun way to encourage you and your child to read books together beginning at birth. Reading together helps develop important literacy skills that provide a solid reading foundation—a key to school and learning success. Plus, sharing stories together will lead to many special moments along the way.
Remember, you are your child’s first teacher. Take every chance you have to read with your children, tell stories, say nursery rhymes, sing songs, and attend library programs.
How does the challenge work?
You can register by visiting Joliet Public Library; either Ottawa Street Branch or Black Road Branch. You can also register online or through your smartphone.
At your first visit, your child will receive a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten lanyard for registering and a paper log.
Start reading! You can count books you read more than once as well as books read during storytime, by older siblings, and at daycare. Track your books online or on a paper log.
For every 100 books read, stop back by the library to get a special keychain for your lanyard and another reading log. At 500 and 1,000 books read, children get a book to keep and parents also get a treat!
Enjoy making memories and a difference in your child’s life.
Go paperless, try Beanstack!
Keep track of the books you’ve read online or through the app by visiting jolietlibrary.beanstack.com or searching for the Beanstack Tracker app through your smartphone. You will be asked to create an account first before registering your child for the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge. Every 100 books you read, Beanstack will give you a virtual badge and remind you to stop by the library to claim your child’s prize!
Don’t get discouraged!
1,000 books is a big goal. Don’t feel rushed, just enjoy the experience! By reading only one short book a day, you could easily complete the program in three years. Joining the club is FREE and does not require a library card. Getting a library card is free for taxpayers in our library district. The library is a fun place featuring books to check out, free programs and great suggestions for what to read. Stop by often—we are here to help!