Reading aloud to your babies and young children for just 10 minutes (approximately 3 books) each day provides them with a significant increase in their readiness for school, exposure to diverse vocabulary, amazing opportunities for snuggles and bonding with caregivers, and sets the stage for an early and long-lasting love of literacy.  

Other benefits include: 

  • connecting with other parents at our library programmes
  • opportunities to take notice and slow down to enjoy these fleeting moments
  • teach your children about the library and saving you money!

Who can participate?

The programme is open to all members of the Queenstown Lakes District Libraries and it’s free! Register online below.

Thank you to our sponsors

Our libraries extend heartfelt gratitude to the community sponsors supporting this program! While Queenstown Lakes may be larger than a village, the spirit of community remains strong, and local youth should know that we’re all rooting for their success. A huge thank you to our sponsors; without your support, programs like this wouldn’t be possible.

How does it work?

  1. First register online below.
  2. Visit your local library and pick up our booklet with reading logs.
  3. Start reading! Borrow books from the library and join us for our Wriggle & Rhyme, and Preschool Storytimes (you can find these on our What's On page).
  4. Each time you reach 100 books in your reading record, visit one of our friendly librarians for a special achievement sticker! There's a special item when you reach 500 books too!
  5. Join us for our 1,000 Books Before School library celebrations (we will email you about these and also pop them up on our What's On page and via our social media channels)!!
  6. Once you've completed the program make sure you let us know by filling out the form below.

Ready to start?

Sign up to 1,000 Books Before School here

Have you read 1,000 Books Before School?

Let us know you've completed here

FAQs

Can I count books that I have already read to my child before I registered?

Unfortunately not, only start counting the books from the day you receive your booklet.

My child likes to read the same book over and over again. How do I count that?

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.

What books count?

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! 

Is it really possible to read 1,000 Books before my child turns 5?

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!

My child turned 5 but hasn’t started school yet. Can we keep doing the programme?

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. 

My child finished 1,000 books! Can we participate again?

Congratulations! And yes, families can participate as many times as they like, before their child turns 5 or starts school.  

 

Don't forget to fill in the form above to let us know you've finished. 

Who makes this possible?

This programme wouldn't be possible without the help of our generous sponsors:

 

  • Altrusa - 2022
  • Aj Hackett - 2024
  • Cardrona Hotel - 2024
  • Driftaway Queenstown - 2024
  • First Table - 2022, 2023
  • Housemart - 2024
  • Lakes Weekly Bulletin - 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Little Wonders Oanaka - 2022
  • Mountain Scene - 2022
  • New World Wānaka - 2022, 2023
  • New World Whakatipu - 2022, 2023
  • New World Three Parks - 2024
  • PAK'nSave Whakatipu - 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Paper Plus Wānaka - 2022
  • Queenstown Medical Centre - 2024
  • Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park - 2024
  • Rainbow Corner Childcare - 2022
  • The Rees - 2024
  • Wayfare/Real NZ - 2022, 2023, 2024