1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Custer County Library
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program continues to make a powerful impact by nurturing a love of reading in young children and supporting families on their literacy journey. Recent improvements — such as expanding the selection of incentive books — have given children more choices when celebrating milestones, keeping them engaged and motivated.
Colleen Parsons, a local parent, shared how the program has sparked a deeper love for reading in her son, Reuben:
“We are so glad that we enrolled Reuben in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. He was already interested in reading, but this was just what we needed to ignite his love of it. He’s excited for nap time and bedtime now, knowing we always read beforehand. I’ve watched new concepts click for him, and I’m confident his interest will carry into his school years and beyond. This program is such an ingenious way to improve literacy in our kiddos!”
Stories like Colleen’s highlight how the program provides structure, motivation, and a sense of achievement — simply by encouraging families to track books and celebrate progress.
One especially heartwarming moment came from a young reader named Aaron. Each time he reached a milestone, he couldn’t wait to choose his prize book — not just for himself, but to share with his cousin during visits. For Aaron, reading became a way to connect and show love.
Aaron’s story reflects the true heart of 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten — it’s not just about hitting reading goals. It’s about joyful moments, meaningful connections, and the lifelong gift of literacy.
Thanks to generous donors like you, Black Hills Reads — a program of United Way of the Black Hills — is able to make stories like this possible!