Early Literacy

Children sitting on a couch with the blue 1000 Books logo.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Families with young children, infants through preschool, are encouraged to register their children for the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Reading Challenge! You can register and log your books at all WCDPL locations, with the form linked below, or online at wcdpl.readsquared.com. Every child participating in the program will receive a free picture book as a registration prize. Pam and Ken Frisch are generous sponsors of this early literacy challenge. Registration can be done throughout the year, in person at the library as well as online or with the ReadSquared App, available on Apple and Google Play. The challenge is to reach 1000 Books before Kindergarten. 

Studies have shown that reading with your child provides many opportunities to bond and develop strong attachments.  Reading together is fun and will create life-long memories.  Experts agree that children who learn the necessary skills early do better in school and later in life.  Participating in 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Reading Challenge can help put your child on the right track.

All books count.  Library books, personal books from home, books read at storytime, at school or with a caregiver, sibling, or a grandparent . The library will recognize children with award stickers at every 100 books logged, and at 500 books, children will select a book from the library collection to have their name designated on a bookplate commemorating their achievement.  At 1000 books, young children will be designated a Royal Reader with a photo, their names added to the Golden Scroll, and they will be awarded another gift book.  Each year the library will recognize participants with an annual celebration.

The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge is generously supported by a gift from Pam & Ken Frisch.

Books for Babies at the Wood County Hospital

Books for Babies packets being delivered to Wood County Hospital.

The Friends of the Library generously support a gift book for babies born at the Wood County Hospital.

A mother reads a picture book to her daughter.

In partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio, the seven independent public library systems in Wood County, known collectively as Woodlink, are proud to bring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Wood County to families in Wood County. Learn more about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Wood County.
 
Program costs are covered by a 50% match from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio program and 50% in locally provided funds. Each library of the county's seven libraries contributed to the project based on the population in their legal service district. The seven libraries that worked together to provide local funds are the North Baltimore Public Library, Pemberville Public Library, Rossford Public Library, Way Public Library in Perrysburg, Wayne Public Library, Weston Public Library, and the Wood County District Public Library.
 
This important early literacy initiative mails every child from birth through age 5 a free, age-appropriate book every month. Enroll the children in your life today to begin getting free books and to inspire the love of reading from a young age.
 
Science shows that a child's brain is already 80% developed by 3 years old. Through reading, children begin to learn words and sounds, recognize pictures, and understand emotions.
 
Entertainment icon and savvy businesswoman Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995. Growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, her father's inability to read and write inspired her to begin her Imagination Library within her home county. Today, her program spans five countries and gifts over 2 million free books each month to children around the world.
 
After seeing the impact of the program on her own family, First Lady Fran DeWine established the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio in 2019. In November of 2020, it grew to encompass all 88 counties of Ohio.
 
Questions? Email dolly@wcdpl.org or call (419) 352-5104. 
 
To help support this important early literacy program, make a donation to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Wood County.

Family Literacy and Parenting Collection

The Family Literacy and Parenting Collection is located within the Children's Place (between the Picture Book collection and the Activity Center). This collection contains parenting materials -- books, magazines, and videos -- as well as materials to help both children and adults learn to read. There are also materials to support ESL/ESOL (English as a Second Language/English for Speakers of Other Languages) learning, and study guides for GED. 

Additional GED and test prep materials are located on the library second floor in the Joan and Jim Gordon Career Center.

Early Literacy Resources:

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