Children in the county are hitting the books at an early age.
The Prince William Public Library System (PWPLS) has reached its one million books goal through the “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program.
Founded in 2015, the program seeks to motivate caregivers and kids to read 1,000 written pieces before starting school.
It receives funding through the PWPLS Foundation, according to a release from Prince William County.
“For young children to have reached one million books read in just over three years speaks volumes to the excellent job done by our library staff in promoting this program,” Foundation President Bryanna Altman said in a release. “Parents, grandparents, and caregivers rave about the program and its effectiveness in introducing reading and books to children from birth to kindergarten.”
Participants may read any book in the library, at daycare or at home.
“We just want to introduce kids to the exciting world of reading,” PWPLS Communications Services Division Chief Rachel Johnson said in a release.
Reading to children is one way parents and caregivers can prepare them for learning, according to Johnson.
“Children who are read to frequently are more likely to recognize all letters of the alphabet, count to 20 or higher, and can write their own names,” Johnson said.
