Reading Challenges

Our “Fall into Reading” Challenge begins October 1, and we’ll have a little something for everyone this season! Please stay tuned, more information to come after our Summer Reading Program has concluded.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

How to Participate

The concept is simple; the rewards are priceless. Read a book to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to have read 1,000 books (yes you can repeat books) before your child starts kindergarten.

• Families can keep track of books read with paper logs — available at the library or download (Color-in log or list log)
• Log your reading online with GLADL’s READsquared
• Use the 1000 Books app (available in App Store & Google Play)

Each time you and your child reach a reading milestone (each 100 books) bring in your reading log to the library or another local participating public library and get a sticker and free book.

Why 1000 books?

Reading to preschool-age children builds vocabulary, language, and helps prepare them with the skills they need for Kindergarten. In as little as 15-20 minutes a day, families can prepare their little ones for future school and life success!

If a child reads for 20 minutes every day, they are exposed to about 1.8 million words of text!

The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program is sponsored by Eaton Great Start.  To learn more about this national program visit 1000 Books Before Kindergarten

In Honor of Ann

Ann Dee Eschtruth of Grand Ledge had a love of words– as a reader and as a writer of poetry.   Ann, who passed away in July 2021 just 3 weeks shy of her 80th birthday, had a “lifelong love affair with words: clever words and their origins, plays on words, contemplative words, words layered in their meaning.” Her family and friends wanted to honor Ann and it is through their generosity that the Grand Ledge Area District Library started these Reading Challenges!