Did you know 34 percent of children entering kindergarten lack the basic language skills needed to learn how to read?

Join the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (JMRL) in the quest to build early literacy skills by participating in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge!

How does the challenge work? It’s simple…read!

First, pick up the ‘reading log’ worksheet at any JMRL location or download it online at www.jmrl.org, then color a square on the log for every book you read.

After reading 50 books, bring the worksheet into the library to receive a folder to hold your program materials. After 100 books, participants will receive a tote bag and a sticker for the worksheet.

When you finally reach 1000 books, take home a free book and a certificate of achievement!

If participants get an extra sticker for doing the early literacy activity on each worksheet, they will also receive an extra prize after finishing the program.

For more information, visit the JMRL website at www.jmrl.org.