The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is designed to promote early literacy skills for children from birth to age five. This program is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents, grandparents and caregivers to read regularly with their young children. The goal of this program is to read and enjoy 1000 books with a child before he or she enters kindergarten.

Research indicates that the most reliable predictor of school success is being read to during early childhood. Reading to children from an early age can help close the vocabulary gap and prepare children to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed. Most importantly, sharing books with children promotes a lifelong love of books and reading.

Currently we place a new book and information packet with each new baby born at Star Valley Health. New parents have the option of joining a support network where members of our group offer various reading tips, book recommendations, as well as personal support to new families. 

In addition, we have book boxes located throughout our community where families can select a book, take it home to read and then return it to one of our locations. Our hope is to help build a strong literacy community by providing accessibility to books, literacy information and family support.

This reading initiative has been made possible through the generous donations from business and community members.