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Tap/click to check out our Easter holiday hours for council facilities (like the Stratford Library & Visitor Information Centre, Wai o Rua - Stratford Aquatic Centre, and the Stratford Transfer Station) *Spoiler alert - rubbish and recycling collections run as usual.

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1,000 books before school

The 1000 Books Before School program is a free early literacy program designed to instil a love of reading in children and build important literacy skills for them prior to starting school. It also aims to encourage parents and carers to read with their children in preparation for school.

A tree filled with woodland creatures and an astronaut. The words read 1000 books before school.


The aim of 1,000 Books Before Schools is to create a culture in our District where we read aloud to our children from birth.

Most picture books take around five minutes to read;

  • if you read three picture books a night (around 15 minutes), 1,000 books can be achieved in less than a year
  • if you read one book a night (around 5 minutes), 1000 books can be achieved in less than three years
Graphic showing number of books required per day to reach 1000 before 5. One book a day for 5 years is 1825 books, one book a day for 3 years is 1095 books, three books a day for 1 year is 1095 books.

How it works

Visit Stratford Library to get your first record sheet and mark each book read together with your child on the sheet.

Every book that your child reads or listens to can be counted, and reading the same book multiple times counts each time as well. This includes stories read at Storytime sessions, day care, and playgroup

When you have read your first 100 books, visit Stratford Library and show us your reading record to receive your book bag and first milestone badge.

Each time you reach the next 100 book milestone, come in to the Stratford Library to show us and receive a merit badge for your bag.

The program finishes once your child reaches the goal of 1,000 books, starts school or turns 6 years old.

Yes. Getting a library card is easy. Just call in with some ID and proof of address.

Unfortunately not, only start counting books from the day you collect your first reading log sheet.

Repetition is hugely important for learning and each time you read any book it counts! If you read the same book 27 times, mark or colour in 27 circles.

Do only library books count? No way! Any time your child listens to an entire book, it counts! Library books, books at home, books read at preschool or kindy, even an audio book or books read on our online books!

Absolutely!

If you read 1 book per day, after THREE years you will have read 1,095 books!

If you read 3 books per day, at the end of ONE year, you will have read 1,095 books!

The programme runs from birth and ends when your child turns 5 OR starts school-whichever happens first. Generally, children start school on their fifth birthday, but some parents might delay their start. Either way, the programme runs until 5 years or until school starts – whichever is first.

No, you can record your books anyway you like as long as you can show us your record when you come in.

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