Wayland Library Launching Reading Initiative for Newborns, Toddlers

It sounds impossible -- read 1,000 books to your child before he or she starts kindergarten.

But if your bedtime ritual is anything like the one I have with my son, you know that one night can involve four or five books.

Suddenly, it doesn’t seem so difficult.

Plus, you have a helper in the Wayland Public Library. On Friday, Jan. 29, the library is launching ”1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” during its 10:30 a.m. storytime.

The national initiative is designed to promote “reading to newborns, infants, and toddlers, and [encourage] parent/child bonding through reading aloud.” The ”1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” website offers downloadable logs so you can keep track of what you’re reading -- and, no, it doesn’t have to be 1,000 different books, nor do you have to do all the reading. Books read by teachers, siblings, librarians and others can all count toward the goal.

As part of Wayland Library’s efforts with the program, logs are also available at the library as are book lists that the library has put together if you’re searching for some ideas.

Youth Services Librarian Pam McCuen has invited Beverly Mobilia, coordinator of Wayland Community Partnerships for Children and Families, to help launch the program on Friday and to return for a second storytime on Feb. 19.

“The program is Just to spark parents’ awareness of the importance of reading aloud to their children,” McCuen said. “Research tells us that reading aloud to your young children gives them a huge boost when they start school…children will be familiar with many stories and have a large word bank to draw from. Learning to read will be that much easier. Also, reading aloud to your child is fun, and a great opportunity for parent/child bonding.”