Reading Challenges

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is an education initiative with three main goals: to promote early childhood literacy, to prepare young children for kindergarten and to facilitate family bonding through reading.

Parents and caregivers may register any child between the ages of 0–6. Any book may be counted and books may be repeated. Repetition is even encouraged as it increases both comprehension and confidence in young children. Keep track on your paper log or in Beanstack. Prizes can be selected by filling out this form or by stopping by the Children's Desk on the 2nd floor.

All children who have not entered kindergarten or the equivalent are eligible to register. Participants are not required to be Normal Public Library cardholders or residents of Normal. Participants are welcome to register for this program even if they are completing other area 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten programs.

January 2, 2022– January 3, 2023

Every month read a book on that month's theme, log it in Beanstack, and earn a themed sticker (pick up at the front desk or via our Curb-It service) and an entry into that month's drawing for a gift card to a local business! Participate nine months out of the year and you are eligible for entry into the grand prize drawing!

Readers are also encouraged to sign up for a monthly newsletter with suggestions for that month's theme. Select the Year-Round Adult Reading Challenge on our NextReads sign up page to get the newsletter or view the current issue.

For readers 18 and older.

Sponsored by the Normal Public Library Foundation.

Monthly Themes

January—Read a book inspired by a fairy tale or folklore

February—Read a book by a contemporary Black author

March—Read a book that has won or been shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction

April—Read a book of poetry

May—Read a book about nature/the environment

June—Read a book by a transgender author

July—Read a romance novel about characters from a different cultural background than your own

August—Read a book in translation

September—Read a book that teaches you something new

October—Read a graphic novel

November—Read a book by a Native American author

December—Read a book about a person from a different religious background than your own

Camp NPL: Read Beyond the Beaten Path Begins June 1!!

• The goal is simple: read every day. You can read anything, from magazines to books to cereal boxes! Read books that you check out from the library, borrow from a friend, buy from the bookstore—anywhere you get books from counts! The library also offers a large selection of digital materials on our website. Exercising those reading muscles through the summer months will help kids stay ready for school in the fall!
   
• Summer Reading is for all ages! We want to reward you for reading every day.
   
• Track your progress online using Beanstack. You can use their site, or download the app for your mobile device. Track multiple family members using one login! You can keep logging your reading in Beanstack anytime, whether we are offering a challenge or not!

2022 Winter Reading Challenge has ended

Watch for our next reading challenge on this page and on Beanstack. You can keep logging your reading in Beanstack anytime, whether we are offering a challenge or not!.