.png){kind=small}
The Marshall-Lyon County Public Library held a 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten graduation ceremony on Saturday, February 1. The Marshall Lyon County Public Library had 14 graduates complete the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Graduates were presented a certificate by United Way of Southwest Minnesota’s President and CEO, Sarah Kicmal.
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program encourages parents to read aloud at least 1,000 books with their children before they enter Kindergarten. Children, when registered at a participating library, receive a canvas library bag with artwork on one side and a list of participating libraries on the other side, a reading folder with a reading log, program information and frequently asked questions. Children receive incentive prizes throughout the 1,000 book journey and upon completion of the program a graduation party.
United Way of Southwest Minnesota partners with sixteen libraries in our service area to provide/execute this worthwhile program. Participating libraries include: Balaton, Canby, Clarkfield, Cottonwood, Dawson, Fulda, Granite Falls, Hendricks, Ivanhoe, Lake Benton, Marshall-Lyon County, Minneota, Slayton, Tracy, Tyler and Westbrook.
Any child from birth until kindergarten can sign up. It will take from a few months to a few years, depending on how many books you read at a time. Developing literacy skills begins at birth and continues throughout the toddler and pre-school years. The best way to ensure a child has the skills necessary to learn to read is having someone read aloud to them.
For more information on 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten visit the United Way website at www.UnitedWaySWMN.org or contact your local library. This program is an initiative of United Way’s Success By 6 efforts which focus on school readiness and early literacy. Additional programming includes: Imagination Library, Wild About Kindergarten school readiness kits, Little Red Bookshelf, summer reading programs and Born Learning Trails.