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Our Favorite Reads for the '1000 Books Before Kindergarten' Program

Starting your child’s reading journey early can make a world of difference in their development. Our ‘1000 Books Before Kindergarten’ program is designed to encourage families to read together and build a lifelong love of books. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite children’s books that are perfect for this challenge. These stories are enjoyable and play a crucial role in enhancing language skills, imagination, and bonding time with your little one.

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50 Books We Love for Your ‘1000 Books Before Kindergarten’ Journey

  1. Froggy Goes to School - Jonathan London 

  2. Madeline - Ludwig Bemelmans

  3. Curious George Visits the Library - Margret & H. A. Rey’s

  4. The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers - Stan & Jan Berenstain

  5. Clifford The Big Red Dog - Norman Bridwell

  6. I Will Never Not Ever Eat A Tomato - Lauren Child

  7. Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes - Eric Litwin

  8. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel - Virginia Lee Burton

  9. Llama Llama Red Pajama - Anna Dewdney

  10. Olivia - Anne Schwartz

  11. Corduroy - Don Freeman 

  12. Pinkalicious - Victoria Kann & Elizabeth Kann

  13. Chicken Cheeks - Michael Ian Black

  14. Who Hops - Katie Davis

  15. We Love Babies! - Jill Esbaum

  16. Best Friends For Frances - Russell Hoban

  17. I’ve Loved You Since Forever - Hoda Kotb

  18. Love You Forever - Robert Munsch

  19. How to Send a Hug - Hayley Rocco

  20. The Kissing Hand - Audrey Penn

  21. The Itsy Bitsy Spider - Iza Trapani

  22. The Three Pigs - David Wiesner

  23. The Little Engine That Could - Watty Piper

  24. Goldilocks - Ruth Sanderson

  25. Interrupting Chicken - David Ezra Stein

  26. Old MacDonald Had a Farm - Tracey Campbell Pearson

  27. What We Wear When We Take Care - Sarah Finan

  28. Alfie’s ABC - Shirley Hughes

  29. How To Count To 1 (And Don't Even Think About Bigger Numbers!) - Casper Salmon

  30. Creepy Crayon! - Aaron Reynolds

  31. I Say OOH You Say AAH - John Kane

  32. Creepy Pair of Underwear - Aaron Reynolds

  33. I Spy Fantasy: A Book of Picture Riddles - Jean Marzollo

  34. Milk and Juice: Recycling Romance - Meredith Crandall Brown

  35. The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle

  36. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Bill Martin

  37. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type - Doreen Cronin

  38. The Runaway Pea: Washed Away - Kjartan Poskitt

  39. Bluey: 5-Minute Stories

  40. Make Way For Ducklings - Robert McCloskey

  41. Blueberries for Sal - Robert McCloskey

  42. Stellaluna - Janell Cannon

  43. Kitty & Cat: Opposites Attract - Mirka Hokkanen

  44. I Like You: An Encouraging Bedtime Book - Kate Allan

  45. The Sour Grape - Jory John

  46. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish - Dr. Seuss

  47. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie - Laura Joffe Numeroff

  48. The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folktale - Jan Brett

  49. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? - Bill Martin

  50. Good Work, Amelia Bedelia - Peggy Perish


How to Join the ‘1000 Books Before Kindergarten’ Program

Joining our program is simple and fun! Just follow these steps:

  1. Visit the Library: Stop by Western District Library to register your child for the '1000 Books Before Kindergarten' program. Our friendly staff will be happy to help you get started.

  2. Pick Up a Reading Log: You'll receive a reading log to track the books you and your child read together. Every book counts, even if you read the same one multiple times!

  3. Start Reading: Explore our newly reorganized children's section, where you'll find a world of stories waiting on our shelves. Whether you're searching for a beloved classic or discovering something new, our collection is designed to inspire young readers. Be sure to check out this list of some of our favorite reads, but don't stop there - take some time to browse and find even more treasures to share with your little one.

  4. Celebrate Milestones: For every 100 books you read, bring your reading log to the library for a special reward. These small incentives will keep your child excited and motivated as you work toward your goal.


Reading 1000 books before kindergarten may seem like a big goal, but you can reach it together with just a little time each day. Whether you're exploring new worlds through stories or bonding over bedtime books, this challenge is a beautiful way to prepare your child for a bright future. We can't wait to see you at the library--happy reading!

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