1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Reading Challenge

Start the journey of reading 1,000 books before kindergarten and set your child up for a lifetime of success. Receive a free book bag, prizes for your child along the way and a gift card from a local business upon completion. Reading challenge open to children who have not entered kindergarten.

A child explores a globe.

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Already have a Beanstack account? Log in & join the new challenge!

Preschools, Daycares & Headstart programs are welcome to participate; register your class or group here: Rosenberg Library on Beanstack

Find the best and brightest books at your Rosenberg Library! Browse the Children’s Catalog: Children’s Catalog

For your convenience, order a grab bag & pick it up curbside! Select My Grab Bag | Schedule Curbside Pick-up

Rosenberg Library welcomes children of all abilities. Please let us know how we can better meet your needs.

Do you have questions? We have answers! Contact the Children’s Department – 409.763.8854 Ext. 135 or email us.

A child looks into the tank at the Rosenberg Library.

Did you Know?

Sharing books and stories is important for your child’s brain development.
Children who are read to at an early age are more successful in school.
Children who are read to have larger vocabularies when they enter school.
Reading aloud to infants and children encourages social, emotional and cognitive development.
A toddler’s brain creates up to two million new connections every second.
A child’s brain develops most rapidly before the age of three.
The ability to learn language skills is greatest before the age of six.

A young mother with her baby reading a book in the Randall Room at the Rosenberg Library.

A view of the Children's Department at Rosenberg Library. A family of three are gathered around a table with books and laptops. A young male patron is utilizing a computer in the Computer Lab. Rows of book-filled shelves line the background. — Children’s Dept

A little boy explores the concrete lion heads on the exterior of the library building. — Get a Library Card

Tips for Reading to Young Children:

Be Prepared:

Keep books close at hand — throughout your home, in the diaper bag, in the car — for sharing anytime. A few minutes each day add up to a big benefit for your child.

Snuggle Up:

Hold your child in your lap or next to you. Include a favorite blanket, stuffed animal or other comfort item. If your child is not agreeable to being snuggled, don’t force them. It is ok to try again later.

Talk About It:

Point out items in the picture. Ask your toddler questions about the story or pictures. Share stories about yourself.

Have Fun:

Use different voices, motions, facial expressions, and props (toys, stuffed animals) to bring the story to life.

Stay Flexible:

It’s ok to skip pages, read back to front, just look at the pictures, or not finish a book. You can also read aloud while your child plays with other toys. Many are in the octopus age where they won’t be able to sit still and that is developmentally appropriate as they work on large motor skills.

Repeat Favorites:

Children love to hear their favorite stories over and over again — and the repetition helps them gain important literary skills.

English as a Second Language:

Read stories in whatever language you are most comfortable in. If you struggle with reading, talking about the pictures as you turn the page is also a fun way to share a book, hearing new words as you go.

Prizes aren’t just for fun!

Book bags carry the thousand books home! Ask Children’s staff how to get your child their own library card!

The piece of crinkle paper included can be a child’s first science experiment. They manipulate and change the shape of the paper, play peek-a-boo, look through the color shade and make interesting sounds.

Maracas, because music is often a child’s first language. Hearing music play helps break down syllables into manageable snippets to be distinguished from one another.

Finger puppets encourage imaginative play and helps develop language skills while providing an opportunity to participate in turn-taking conversations. Strive for 5 back-and-forth interactions with your child.

Play-Doh assists in sensory development, play, fine motor skills and dexterity.

Bath books allow book accessibility for all occasions.

Color ink pads + paper encourage color identification and imaginative, tactile play.

Galveston Children’s Museum tickets offer a free trip to the museum filled with fun and entertaining interactive exhibits. Help your child unlock the “Power of Play”!

Wooden puzzles develop fine motor skills, problem solving and shape recognition, which all stimulate early literacy skills.

Bubble wands assist with large motor & fine motor skills, visual tracking and hand-eye coordination.

Mini magnetic drawing boards promote early writing skills; all marks have meaning. The scribbles your child makes are the precursor to writing. The alphabet is a series of shapes and learning to draw shapes will eventually lead to writing.

Certificates of Completion provide a sense of accomplishment and a job well done and Gift cards to a local business for the grown-up readers because we recognize that the adult does most of the heavy lifting for this program and we want to reward your hard work while supporting local businesses.