ST. LOUIS – Hundreds of young children have completed the St. Louis Public Library’s “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program since it launched four years ago.
The St. Louis 1,000 books challenge, which began in August 2020, aims to foster strong early literacy skills and encourage consistent reading routines before children head to school.
The St. Louis Public Library reports, as of Aug. 31, 2024, that 221 children have completed the 1,000 books challenge and all program participants have read a combined 406,917 books.
Participants and their families track their progress by using a paper booklet or the Beanstack app or website.
For every 100 books read (100-900), readers choose a prize book to keep. After 1,000 books read, readers earn a backpack, Kindergarten supply kit and a certificate of achievement.
To learn more about the 1,000 books challenge offered through St. Louis Public Library, click here. To learn more about a similar program offered in St. Louis County, click here.