By Lindsay Reuer, Oshkosh Public Library Children's Librarian
Are you and your child ready to take our 1000 Books Reading Challenge? Created for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers, this challenge helps you make a habit out of reading, writing, talking, singing, and playing with your young child. Doing these activities, in turn, increase children’s early literacy skills—the skills needed to be able to learn how to read once they begin school.
You can sign up for the challenge whether your child is four days old or four years old. The goal is to read 1000 books with your child by the time they reach kindergarten. This may sound intimidating, but it doesn’t take much time at all to read five board books with your baby—ten minutes—or three pictures books with your toddler or preschooler—15 minutes or less! This adds up fast and many find that they’re able to complete the challenge in a year or less. And don’t worry caregivers: reading the same book over and over counts as one book each time you read it. Repetition is great for learning!
The 1000 Books Challenge also includes activities to promote writing, talking, singing, and playing with your child. Although they are optional, they’re a lot of fun and highly encouraged. You’ll get to take part in enriching activities like cooking recipes from books, singing songs, and having reading parties.
When you register, you’ll receive a keepsake booklet to help track your reading and activities and a bag perfect for holding your book haul from the library. You’ll earn prizes along the way that include books and early learning toys designed to promote children’s early literacy skills. Plus, for every 100 books read, your child can get their name displayed on our 1000 Books Challenge Wall at the library.
Register online at Beanstack or by visiting the Children’s Department. You have the option to track through Beanstack, your keepsake booklet, or both! Be on the lookout for special missions in the challenge during the library’s all ages reading challenges: the Summer Reading Challenge and the Wild Winter Read Off.
