1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
The Jack Russell Memorial Library is pleased to offer this free Early Literacy Program as part of a state-wide program called Growing Wisconsin Readers. 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is open to any child, beginning at birth until the start of kindergarten. It encourages parents and caregivers to read 1,000 books to their child before he or she begins school. Reading together helps your child develop important pre-literacy skills that will prepare them for success in school. It is also a fun way to spend time together!
It is easy to participate! How do I get started? Click Here! Print your child's reading log here or get a paper tracker folder at the library.
Learn more about 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten:
500 Books Before Middle School
This is the follow-up to 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. Why should the littlest ones have all the fun? Let's continuing the reading fun! Enroll your child anytime between kindergarten and middle school. The goal is to read 500 books before your child starts 6th grade. If you read 2 books a week, you will have read 104 books in a year. That's 208 books in two years and 312 books in three years! You have more time than you think to complete the 500 Books Before Middle School Challenge!
It is easy to participate! How do I get started? Click here!
- Visit hartfordlibrary.beanstack.org. Beanstack is your online reading challenge platform to log your reading progress. Through Beanstack, readers can log their reading time to earn badges and prizes.
- If you already have an account (summer or winter reading programs), log in and sign up for reading challenges.
- To create an account, click on Register an Individual or Family.
- If you are an adult registering a family, first click on I am registering myself. To register only your children, click on I am registering a child.
- Fill in the required fields and select the Reading Challenges your readers are eligible to join.
- Now that you are registered, you will be taken to your account page. From here, you can begin to log your reading!
If your child would like to log books along with you, download and print the paper log here. Don't have a printer? Stop by the youth desk at the library and pick up a tracker folder.
How do I log reading?
On a Computer
- Use the Beanstack Tracker app to sign into your account.
- Click on the plus icon at the bottom of the app to log your reading.