The Washington Public Library will be kicking off 1000 Books Before Kindergarten for the Community on December 1. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten encourages families and caregivers to read 1000 books with their children before they enter kindergarten. Reading to your child is an excellent way to prepare for kindergarten. Studies have shown that families who start reading aloud to their children at birth help strengthen language skills and build vocabulary–two important tools when children begin learning to read in kindergarten. Register for this program at the Washington Public Library or through their website. There are different prizes for each milestone achieved with the program. 1000 Books before Kindergarten is generously funded by the Washington Free Public Library Foundation through a grant received from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, as well as from funding received from the Brinton Trust and the Delores J. Siegle memorial fund.