1000 Reads Before Kindergarten

1000 Reads before Kindergarten is a fun, easy and free early literacy program for families with children ages 0-5. The goal is to read a thousand books together before the start of kindergarten. Read at your own pace, repeat books as many times as you want, and enjoy reading together!

A thousand books may seem like a lot, but if you read just one book a day, you can meet your goal in less than three years. If you read three books a day, you could reach your goal in just one year!

Why participate?

You are your child’s first and best teacher! You play a key role in your child’s early literacy, and home is where your child begins to learn. Reading together helps build a lifelong love of reading and develops critical early literacy skills in children.

Children who enjoy books will want to learn to read.
Children who want to have books read to them are more likely to want to learn to read.
The more words a child hears, the larger their vocabulary will be, which helps with reading.

How to get started

Read together! Read as many books, as often as you like. Read at your own pace and feel free to repeat books.
Track your reading. Families can track their reading on the Beanstack Tracker App to earn badges for reading milestones, or download log sheets.
Celebrate milestones! Print milestone certificates when you reach 100, 300, 500 and 1000 books.
Email childrensservices@tpl.ca when you reach 1000 books to receive a book prize. Limit of one prize per family, while quantities last.
Explore our website for more Ready for Reading programs and services to support early literacy skills.

What is Beanstack?

Beanstack is a free web-based reading tracking software. You and your child can track your reading, write book reviews, receive personalized book recommendations and more!

How do we sign up?

Register on desktop or download the Beanstack Tracker app from your mobile device’s app store.
In the app, locate Toronto Public Library from the drop down menu. Click on “Register an Individual or Family.”
If registering as a family, click “I am Registering Myself” first. You can add additional family members after you register yourself.
Fill in your info! Beanstack allows families to be linked together, so all family members can be accessed with one login.
Join the 1000 Reads Before Kindergarten challenge. Challenges are fun ways to track milestones in Beanstack. Kids can earn badges for achievements such as reading a book or completing an activity.
Log your reading and activities to earn virtual badges. Keep track of books you and your child enjoyed by writing a review. It’s that easy!

📘Track your reading using the Beanstack Tracker App or download log sheets below
📘Print reading milestone certificates along the way
📘Receive a book prize after reading 1000 books!