Parents, grandparents, and other caregivers are a child’s first teachers, and multiple studies have shown that achieving one simple goal of reading 1000 books out loud to infants and toddlers can set kids on a path for academic success.

Amarillo Public Library's Early Literacy Librarian Erika Carrillo says 1000 sounds like a lot of books, but the goal is easily accomplished, even if you’re not starting from day one. “Most kids start kindergarten sometime after their fifth birthday, and you have 1,826 days in five years," says Carrillo. So even reading just one story a day will get you there!”

Reading to kids every day from birth has documented benefits including:

• Brain Development: The first 1,000 days of a child's life are critical for brain development, and reading fosters this growth.
• Language Skills: Early exposure to language through reading helps children develop vocabulary and comprehension skills, which are essential for reading success.
• Preparation for School: Children who are read to at home have a better chance of succeeding in school, as reading skills are predictors of academic success.
• Family Bonding: Reading together creates a special bond between parents and children, making it a cherished activity.
• Lifelong Learning: The foundation laid by reading early in life supports lifelong learning and academic success.

Amarillo Public Library’s initiative works this way. Beginning in mid-February, parents or caregivers can sign kids up at the Downtown Library and receive a booklet to keep track of the stories they read. Kids receive a prize for every 100 books, leading up to a grand prize after 1000 books. Carrillo says books that kids hear at Library Storytimes count and so do re-reads. “Studies show that rereading actually improves vocabulary and reading comprehension, so don't worry if your little one wants to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar over and over again.”

For more information, contact the Youth and Information Desk at the Downtown Library by calling 806-378-3089.