This year's Summer Reading Program ran from June 1 through August 3. Participants were able to log their reading on Beanstack, earn rewards, and enter prize drawings all summer long! If you were a participant, you may still check on your account and redeem rewards, provided they are still in stock. All prize drawing winners have been notified.

Pre-K Program (Birth through age 4)

"Level up" by reading to your child and logging the number of books you read together! You'll advance to the next level with every 2 books read. There are 10 levels in all.

Certain levels will earn your child a special reward! (Beanstack will notify you when this is the case. These rewards may be redeemed at the Main Library or the Downtown Branch Library.)

Levels 8, 9, and 10 automatically enter your child in our prize drawings:

Level 8 prize drawing: $50 Dickens Books & Little Givens gift certificate
Level 9 prize drawing: $75 Get Air Lynchburg gift card
Level 10/grand prize drawing: Toniebox set with 6 Tonies

There will be one winner for each of these three Pre-K prize drawings.

Keep logging your child's books read after reaching level 10 to increase their odds of winning a prize drawing! Prize drawings will take place after the Summer Reading Program concludes.

Kids' Program (Ages 5 through 10**)

Kids can "level up" by reading books and logging the number of minutes they read! They'll advance to the next level with every 100 points. There are 10 levels in all.

Certain levels will earn your child a special reward! (Beanstack will notify you when this is the case. These rewards may be redeemed at the Main Library or the Downtown Branch Library.)

Levels 8, 9, and 10 automatically enter your child in our prize drawings:

Level 8 prize drawing: $50 Dickens Books & Little Givens gift certificate
Level 9 prize drawing: $75 All Fired Up gift certificate
Level 10/grand prize drawing: Nintendo Switch Lite console and eShop gift card

There will be one winner for each of these three Kids' prize drawings.

Have your child continue logging minutes read even after reaching level 10 to increase their odds of winning a prize drawing! Prize drawings will take place after the Summer Reading Program concludes.

**Caregivers may choose to register their 10-year-old for either the Kids' program or the Tween & Teen program.

The Lynchburg Public Library has been proudly offering the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program since May 2017!

This program is open to any child, including county residents, and you do not have to have a library card to participate. The program is ongoing and new participants are welcome to join at any time. Why not today? The Youth Services staff will be happy to help you get started.

We are very thankful to our sponsor, The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation and founding sponsor, The Junior League of Lynchburg for making this program possible!

Why 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is important:

This program is a nationwide, evidence-based, early literacy initiative that encourages caregivers and families to read with their young children. Studies have shown that families who start reading aloud to their children at birth help strengthen their language skills and build their vocabulary—two vital steps toward kindergarten readiness. Children who are exposed to books and stories before entering school are more likely to succeed academically early on, and those who develop a love of reading at an early age are more motivated to continue learning to read once enrolled in kindergarten.

How 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Works:

You can watch this brief video, or keep reading below.

The concept is simple; the rewards are priceless. Read a book—any book—to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to have read 1,000 books before your little one starts kindergarten. (Yes, you can repeat books!) Does it sound difficult? It’s not, if you think about it: If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years! Books read to your child during storytimes count as well. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you may have more time than you think.

We have an exciting reward system in place to keep families and children motivated on their journey to 1,000 books. For each book read, the child or caregiver tracks progress by coloring a numbered circle in the child’s personal copy of the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Keepsake Reading Log. For every 100 books read, your child earns a corresponding milestone sticker to be placed in their log. In addition, the special 500-book reward is a drawstring book bag featuring the official 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten logo.

In celebration of reaching the 1,000 book goal, the final prize is a picture book to keep--your child will get to choose from a variety of options! The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten log itself is also meant to be a keepsake, with its log of achievements marking a significant time in your child’s life. The record includes space to write titles of favorite books read and to illustrate favorite scenes. The final page of the record is a certificate to be signed by LPL Youth Services staff. With guardian permission, each child who completes the challenge will also have their photo added to the “wall of fame” in the Youth Services department, and displayed on the Library’s social media.

LPL’s videos on YouTube

Storytime Around Town video series

Suggested:

See the whole series here

Cooks & Books video series

Suggested:

See the whole series here

Anime Appetite video series

My Neighbor Totoro:

Ponyo:

Howl’s Moving Castle:

Kiki’s Delivery Service:

Youth Services staff have been busy creating some cool, online escape rooms for you and your family! Challenge levels vary, but all are appropriate for children.

Click the image below to try out our Mario Party-inspired escape room!

Click the image below to try out our The Mandalorian-inspired escape room!

Click the image below to try out our The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening-inspired escape room!

Click the image below to try out our Animal Crossing-inspired escape room!