1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Read 1,000 books (yes, repeats count!) before your child starts kindergarten.
Reading aloud to your baby, toddler, and preschooler enhances language, brain, and socio-emotional development. It fosters a love of reading and provides opportunity for parent-child bonding, all while preparing them to be ready for kindergarten.
Sign up online or pick up a passport at your library. Win milestone prizes along the way- books, coupons, and more! Your child also has the chance to be on your library’s Wall of Fame.
Register to participate at santafelibrary.beanstack.com or at your SFPL branch to earn rewards as you read with your family and prepare your child for success.
Early Childhood Programs
E.L.K. (Early Literacy Kits)
Designed for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, Early Literacy Kits (E.L.K.s) are filled with books, resources, activity ideas, and supplies to help support early childhood development.
Each kit has a fun theme (Feelings, Shapes & Colors, and Dinosaurs just to name a few!) and information sheets to help adults utilize the toys, books, and materials inside. Kits include resources to keep.
Kits are currently being refreshed and will be available for check out in January 2026.
LENA Start - Coming in 2026!
LENA Start (Language ENvironment Analysis) is a free program for caregivers of children ages 0-36 months. Over 10 weekly sessions, caregivers receive personalized feedback on how to increase quality talk and interaction – all in a fun, supportive group environment.
Classes include a free parent kit, children’s books, patented LENA technology, and other fun incentives.
Did you know? In the first few years of life...
Early language exposure, in particular interactive talk, is one of the strongest predictors of brain development.
One million new neural connections form in a child’s brain every second, according to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.
The number of conversational turns children experience correlates with their brain activity and brain structure and has been shown by new research to be predictive of IQ and language skills in adolescence (view information source at Lena Start Talking Tips)
For more information or to participate, please call (505) 955-2817 or email library@santafenm.gov.
Funded by the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library
