The Kindergarten Reading Challenge at GLADL offers support and inspiration for you, and your Kindergartener, during this critical age in their literacy development. You can encourage your child by setting a goal, then have fun working with them to achieve it. You make a commitment to support your child’s lifelong reading journey by taking part in the Kindergarten Challenge!
The focus of the Kindergarten Reading Challenge is the vital time spent reading aloud with your child and features 100 books to read aloud with your child during their kindergarten year. Here you’ll find a curated collection of well-loved classics, engaging new stories, and even concept building books. All the books listed are available at GLADL or through our inter-library loan service, MelCat. You’ll find them in our children’s collections– Look for the blue star stickers on the books.
New in 2024 – Dino-ROAR Into Reading!
Dinosaur fun at the Grand Ledge Area District Library! Read great books, adopt a dinosaur for your home or yard and earn “mystery eggs” containing fun accessories for your dinosaur to wear.
Select a book from our Challenge list and as you complete each book, record it here. Once you’ve completed reading all 100 books, stop by the library to receive a certificate of completion and a free book. Additional prizes will unlock along the way.
To complete this Challenge online, you will need to record the titles you have read on the Missions page. There are 10 missions with titles such as "100 in Kindergarten - Books 1 to 10". Each mission has 10 of the 100 books included, with the books in alphabetical order by title. You do not have to read the books in any particular order, just mark them off in the appropriate mission as you go. When you have finished all 10 books in a particular mission, that mission will become complete which will give you points towards badges and mini-games. When you have finished all 10 missions, you have completed the 100 in Kindergarten Challenge!
Why Is Reading Aloud So Important?
Reading aloud to your kindergartener is strongly associated with their eventual success in reading because they hear sounds, and patterns in letters and start associating them with words. Goals for Kindergarten literacy include phonetics awareness, letter recognition, and above all enjoying stories and storytelling — the ability to retell the story in their own words! While reading aloud to your kindergartener, you can strengthen their literacy skills, instill a love of reading, and have fun together!
Enjoy Reading with your Child
Here are some helpful literacy tips:
• Choose a special time to read with your child. After lunch, or before bed are popular choices — but choose whatever works best for your family.
• Read slowly, with expression. Try using different voices for different characters.
• Follow the words with your finger as you read. Your child will see that words are read from left to the right on the page.
• Point to the pictures and say the names of objects and colors.
• Have your child help turn the pages.
• Ask your child to describe pictures, repeat phrases used in the story, and predict what will happen next.
• Take time to answer your child’s questions.
• As your child’s reading progresses, take turns reading pages to each other.
• Visit Reading is Fundamental ( rif.org ) for more tips on reading aloud with your child. Or ask your library staff– we’re happy to help!
This Reading Challenge has been adapted for use at GLADL, from a program created by Clinton-Macomb Public Library, and is used with their permission.