1000 Books Before School

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Register, read and be rewarded!

The 1000 Books Before School program is a free early literacy program designed to instil a love of reading in children and build important literacy skills for them prior to starting school. It also aims to encourage parents and carers to read with their children in preparation for school.

Sign up to the Program

How to Get Started

  • Using a Browser: Visit the City of Ryde Libraries Beanstack website and register you and your child up for the 1000 Books Before School program.
  • Using the App: Download the Beanstack app through Google Play or App Store on your smart device and sign up. When you open the app, click Yup! Your library is part of Beanstack and search for Ryde Library Services.

We encourage using an individual child’s library card for the program to help keep track of their reading.

How the Program Works

  • Visit any City of Ryde Library to get your Reading Log and mark each book read together with your child on the sheet. Alternatively, download the PDF file(PDF, 13MB) and print it out yourself.
  • Log your reading progress through the Beanstack website or app.
  • Every book that your child reads or listens to can be counted, and reading the same book multiple times counts each time as well. This includes stories read at Storytime sessions, day care, and playgroup
  • When you have read your first 100 books, visit a City of Ryde Library and show us your paper reading record or online badge to receive your "I’m reading 1000 Books Before School" bag.
  • Each time you reach the next 100-book milestone, bring it into any City of Ryde Library to receive a merit patch for your bag.
  • The program finishes once your child reaches the goal of 1000 books, starts school or turns 6 years old. 

The 1000 Books Before School program is a joint project between the following councils:

  • Hornsby Shire Council Library Service
  • Shorelink Library Network (Lane Cove Council Library Service, Mosman Council Library Service and North Sydney Council Library Service)
  • Ku-ring-gai Council Library Service
  • Mid North Coast Co-operative Library Service
  • Canterbury Bankstown Council
  • City of Ryde Libraries
  • Georges River Council 
  • Woollahra Council
  • Bayside Council
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