Frequently Asked Questions
Who can sign up for this program?
Any child not yet in Kindergarten can sign up for this program. It will take a few months to a few years to complete, depending on how many books you read each week. How do I sign up my child for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten? You can sign up at any FCPL branch or online.
To sign up online:
If you already have a Beanstack account, login at fcpl.beanstack.org, choose the correct reader using the drop down menu, and click on “Register for this Program” in the Current Programs tab. Be sure to visit your FCPL branch to receive your 1000 Books Before Kindergarten tracking materials.
Download the Beanstack app on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
If you are new to Beanstack, go to fcpl.beanstack.org.
Choose “Register an Individual or Family” and follow the prompts to register for an account and add your child as a reader. Once your child is set up as a reader, click on “Register for this Program” in the Current Programs tab. Be sure to visit your FCPL branch to receive your 1000 Books Before Kindergarten tracking materials.
My child likes to read the same book over and over again. How do I count that?
If you and your child read a book multiple times, simply log the book the number of times you read it.
Can I count books that are read to my child in school, or by a nanny or daycare provider?
Yes. Any book read to your child—by anybody—counts.
Do the books have to be library books?
No. Any book you read counts.
What if a child can read before starting kindergarten? Does it count when children read books to themselves?
Yes, absolutely! How exciting that they are reading already!
My child likes to listen to books on the computer/iPad/e-reader/etc. Can I count them?
As long as your child listens to the whole book, it counts.
Can a librarian recommend books to read for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program?
Yes! This is one of our favorite things to do. Please stop by your branch library and let the librarians know you are working toward the goal of reading 1000 books before kindergarten. We will make sure you find lots of great books! There are reading lists available on our website here: fcpl.org/booklist or get recommendations at https://www.fcpl.org/learn/book-recommendations.
Why is it important to read to very young children?
Developing literacy skills begins at birth and continues throughout the toddler and preschool years. The best way to ensure a child has the skills necessary to learn to read is having someone read aloud to them.
Can you really expect to read 1000 books to your child before they start kindergarten?
Yes! If you read one book at bedtime every night for three years, you will have read 1095 books. If you read ten books each week for two years, you will have read 1040 books. If you read three books a day for one year, you will have read 1095 books.
I have more than one child and I read to both of them at the same time. Can I count the same book for each child?
Yes! If an older child reads to their sibling, you can count that as well.