City of Canada Bay Libraries is proud to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its beloved early literacy initiative, 1,000 Books Before School. Launched in July 2024, the free and ongoing program is designed to spark a lifelong love of reading while helping local children build strong foundations for school.
The program encourages families to read regularly with their children before they start Kindergarten – boosting early literacy, vocabulary, critical thinking, and imagination. And the community has embraced it wholeheartedly.
Since its launch, the results have been remarkable:
46,105 books have been read and logged
672 children have joined the program
9 children have read 1,000 books in under 12 months!
Parents and carers have also reported positive changes at home:
97% believe the program has provided a meaningful bonding experience with their child
71% have noticed improvements in their child’s language skills and engagement with storytelling
To celebrate the milestone, a custom first birthday illustration was created by children’s illustrator Dani Franza, a former local resident whose whimsical characters have brought the program to life over the past year.
“Early literacy plays a vital role in a child’s development, and we’re proud to see so many families in our community engaging with this program,” City of Canda Bay Mayor Michael Megna said.
“Reading together not only prepares children for school, but also nurtures connection, imagination, and confidence.”
For more information or to join the program, please visit: canadabay.nsw.gov.au/1000-books-before-school
