Start ‘1,000 Books before Kindergarten’

WOODBINE – Cape May County has joined the nationwide program, “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.” As the name implies, the program is designed to encourage parents and caregivers to read 1,000 books to their children before they enter kindergarten. What makes this program special is that parents can sign up their children at any time, there are no deadlines.  
Not only are the children encouraged to read they are rewarded. 
Simply register at any of the county’s eight library branches, Cape May City, Court House, Villas, Petersburg, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor, Wildwood, or Woodbine, and the registrant will be given a folder with a reading log and other pertinent information. 
After every 50 books, the log is taken into the library and the child will receive a prize. There are also special prizes for reaching 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 books read and an annual graduation to celebrate and encourage children to continue reading.
For those who may think 1,000 books sounds like a lot, it’s really not. 
Reading just three books a day to a child for one year meets the quota, in essence bedtime stories. 
Also, reading the same book multiple times counts as well as books being read by siblings, teachers and librarians count too.  
The Cape May County Library hopes to see a large number of children join “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten.” Children who are read to at an early age are more successful in school and have bigger vocabularies when they enter school, statistics show. Kellie Large, head children’s librarian, explained that reading aloud to infants and children encourages social, emotional, and cognitive development. This program is not only beneficial to children but makes reading fun.
The program is open to all children ages birth to 5, simply visit a local Cape May County Library branch any time after March 21 to register.
To contact Johanna Hovik, email jhovik@cmcherald.com.