1000 Books Before Kindergarten :: 100!

We recently started working toward the goal of 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. We have been reading books to Eli and Maddie since they were babies, but when I saw this program to promote reading to your little ones, I started recording what we read.

We actually read multiple books a day, multiple times a day {my kiddos LOVE books}, so instead of recording every time we read a book {even if we read the same one 100 times}, I decided to see if we could make it to 1000 unique books. We have a few more years before Kindergarten, so why not try? 

I have started checking out books from the library each week. It's an incentive for Eli and Maddie to read "special books" before nap time, or when I need them to calm down a little. They're "special" because only Mama and Daddy can touch them haha. My kids still destroy books if they get their hands on them, so we are trying to teach them to be gentle with books that Mama gets from the library. Then hopefully at some point I can take them to the library :)

The official program website has a list of books kids should hear before Kindergarten, so I have started making our way through that list. I also found Growing Book by Book, which has several book lists; we are currently working through this one. It is helping us get an idea of which ones we like, so we can then look for more by that author. {Side note: there are A LOT on this list - so far - that make me question how these lists are made haha}. Working through these lists makes it easy for me to reserve the books at the library and go pick them up. When Eli and Maddie learn how to treat books more gently, I will let them pick out their own. The nerdy part of me is really excited for that, since I used to LOVE going to the library and picking out my weekly books! :)

**Our list also includes all the books we received as gifts from their baby shower, and the books we have added to our home collection through the years**

1. A B C by Dr. Seuss*
2. Toes, Ears, & Nose! by Karen Kratz
3. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss*
4. Baby Touch and Feel Animals by Kaplan Early Learning Company*
5. Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton*
6. Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton*
7. I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak*
8. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
9. Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell* 
10. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault*
11. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman*
12. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.*
13. Things That Go by Stephan Lomp*
14. Busy City by Amy Pixton*
15. Baby Animals by Stephan Lomp*
16. Hello Farm! by Amy Pixton*
17. Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert
18. Fred Stays With Me! by Nancy Coffelt
19. The Three Bears by Byron Barton
20. Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
21. Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day
22. Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
23. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
24. The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone*
25. Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox*
26. Jamberry by Bruce Degen
27. Corduroy by Don Freeman*
28. Little One, God Loves You by Amy Warren Hilliker*
29. Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban
30. Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
31. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
32. Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino*
33. Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
34. A Parade of Elephants by Kevin Henkes
35. Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin*
36. Ninja! by Arree Chung
37. Freight Train by Donald Crews
38. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
39. A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman*
40. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown*
41. But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton*
42. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle*
43. Fairy Tales by Helen Anderton and Stuart Lynch*
44. All the Ways I Love You by Theresa Trinder
45. You Are Mine by Max Lucado
46. You Are Special by Max Lucado
47. A Gift for Little Tree by Colleen D.C. Marquez
48. Little One, God Made You Special by Amy Warren Hilliker*
49. Noah's Ark by Barbara Shook Hazen
50. I Thank God for This Day! by Phil Vischer*
51. Say and Pray Bible by Diane M. Stortz
52. Clifford’s Opposites by Norman Bridwell
53. My First Book of Trains by Brimax Books Limited
54. Baby Happy Baby Sad by Leslie Patricelli
55. I Am a Big Sister! by Caroline Church*
56. I Am a Big Brother! by Caroline Church*
57. Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae*
58. I Love You More and More by Nicky Benson
59. Everywhere I Go, God Is with Me by Mikal Keefer*
60. All Day Long, God Loves Me by Mikal Keefer*
61. A Perfect Home for a Family by David L. Harrison
62. The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman 
63. Welcome Little One: (a Love Letter to You) by Sandra Magsamen*
64. I Love You to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth*
65. Time for Bed by Mem Fox*
66. Little Owl's Night by Divya Srinivasan*
67. I Prayed for You by Jean Fischer
68. Your Baby's First Word Will Be DADA by Jimmy Fallon*
69. God Is Good... All the Time by Margi McCombs*
70. Petite Boutique: Who Goes Moo? by Make Believe Ideas Ltd.*
71. Grandpa Loves Me! by Marianne R. Richmond*
72. Grandma Loves Me! by Marianne R. Richmond*
73. The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible by Jared Kennedy*
74. Bathtime for Twins by Ellen Weiss*
75. Twin to Twin by Margaret O'Hair*
76. Two Is for Twins by Wendy Cheyette Lewison*
77. Night Night, Farm by Amy Parker*
78. Wish by Matthew Cordell
79. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood*
80. On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
81. Mortimer's First Garden by Karma Wilson
82. Pajama Time! by Sandra Boynton*
83. How to Babysit a Grandpa by Jean Reagan*
84. How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan*
85. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
86. Abuela by Arthur Dorros
87. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble
88. Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
89. Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming
90. Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack
91. Hello, America! by Martha Day Zschock*
92. Hello, Washington D.C.! by Martha Day Zschock*
93. White House Pets by Howard M. Kurtz*
94. I Am a Bunny by Ole Risom
95. Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
96. Olivia by Ian Falconer
97. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
98. Biscuit Loves the Library by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
99. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
100. Angelina Ballerina by Katharine Holabird

*Some of our favorites