1,000 Books Before School

Reading daily helps children develop their vocabulary, language, and listening skills. It also helps them gain a better understanding of the world around them. When children read or listen to stories, they learn new words which helps them communicate better with others.

During the preschool years, a child's brain develops rapidly. Studies have shown that by the age of three, the brain has already reached 80% of its adult size, and by the age of five, it has reached 90% of its adult size!

Research also shows that children who are read to every day are almost a year ahead in learning compared to children who are not read to at home. By reading or sharing books with your child for around 15 minutes a day, you can give them a head start in life and better prepare them for learning.

Reading is also fun, and a great bonding activity for both you and your child.

1,000 Books Before School is for children who have not yet started school. You can sign up your child at any time from birth until they begin school. The program ends when your child either completes 1,000 books or starts Kindergarten.

Signing up to the 1,000 Books Before School program is easy!

Simply follow these steps: 

1. Sign up for a Beanstack account, or log into your existing account at canadabay.beanstack.com (or via the Beanstack app). To register, select the 1,000 Books Before School challenge. 
2. Visit either Concord Library, Five Dock Library, or The Learning Space, Rhodes to collect your 1,000 Books Before School pack. 
3. Log your child's books and follow their reading progress in Beanstack.
4. When your child reaches a reading milestone, they can collect a sticker for their Reading Passport from any of our library branches.
5. Once your child reaches 1,000 books or starts school, they can collect their completion certificate and a commemorative ribbon badge!

You can register as many children as you like, as long as they haven't started school. 

Simply add each child to your Beanstack account. You do not need to create a separate account for each child.  

Every book counts, not just library books. This includes books read by your child, or books read to them. You can log physical books, eBooks, audiobooks, and online stories. You can also log books in any language.

This includes books read or listened to at:

• Home, in the car, or on public transport.
• Toddlertime and Preschool Storytime sessions at the library.
• Childcare, preschool, daycare, or playgroup.

You can log the same book every time it is read or listened to – repetition is beneficial for a child's learning and is highly recommended.

Most picture books take about five minutes to read.

If you and your child read just one book every day, you can finish the program in less than three years. Read three books a day (only 15 minutes of your time!), and you will finish the program in less than one year! 

Reading 1,000 books should not be a race. If you and your child can only read a couple of books every week, then they are still learning. The aim is to help your child grow through a love of books and reading, not a race to the finish line.

Library membership is not essential to take part in 1,000 Books Before School. However, we encourage you to join up and take advantage of all the amazing resources we have to offer. 

Our Concord and Five Dock Libraries are home to our physical book collections. Here, you will find our board books, picture books, junior non-fiction, and parenting collections. The Learning Space at Rhodes is home to our Makerspace and digital facilities.

With a library membership, you can also access a range of free online resources. They include: 

• Story Box: Story Box is a vibrant, interactive experience where children can connect, engage and be inspired by a range of quality Australian stories read by wonderfully engaging storytellers.
   
• LOTE Online for Kids: LOTE Online for Kids features over 1,000 digital books for children in more than 35+ languages with English translations. Watch, learn, and enjoy!
   
• World Book eBooks: World Book eBooks provides 24/7 access to hundreds of interactive eBooks to support children's learning.

Any stories that are read, listened to, or watched can be added towards your 1,000 books goal!

Joining the library is simple and free:

1. Complete the online registration form here. 
2. Visit one of our libraries to activate your full membership and collect your library card. You will need to show identification with proof of name and current address. 
3. Start using your membership immediately! 

Regular children's programs

City of Canada Bay Libraries run regular programs during school term for children and their parents or carers. These programs run at Concord Library, Five Dock Library, and The Learning Space, Rhodes. 

Books that are read during our programs can be added towards your 1,000 books goal!

For more information, please phone Concord Library 9911 6210, Five Dock Library 9911 6310 or The Learning Space 9911 6332. 

Mem Fox is a beloved Australian children's book author. She has written more than 40 books for children, including the bestselling and much-loved picture books Possum Magic and Where is the Green Sheep? 

Other books by Mem include Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, Hunwick’s Egg, Hello Baby!, A Giraffe in the Bath, Koala Lou, Baby Bedtime and Roly Poly.

Mem has released her ten read-aloud commandments, which we encourage you to read. Numbers 1 and 2 on her list are some of our favourites! They are:

1. Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud. From birth!
2. Read at least three stories a day: it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read. Or the same story a thousand times!

Dani Franza is City of Canada Bay Libraries' 1,000 Books Before School illustrator. 

She created a series of playful, sweet characters - Bear, Foxy and Mousey - to bring the program to life. These book-loving characters will take children on an adventure and spark their imagination as they move through the program together. 

In talking about her designs, Dani says "I think this concept may have roots in my own childhood experiences. My mum is a painter and maker of the most beautiful things, so we would create things with our hands for imaginative play."

"So just like us, these animal characters embark on a playful reading journey, crafting their costumes together and supporting one another."

Visit Dani's website to see more of her work.