Bennett Dinsdale pictured recently at the Reinbeck Public Library after completing the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge. PHOTO COURTESY OF LENAH OLTMAN

REINBECK – Bennett “Benny” Dinsdale has achieved his goal of reading 1,000 books before kindergarten at the Reinbeck Public Library!

Benny is so dedicated to reading, he often starts his mornings with eyes barely open and the words ‘read my book’ on his lips. Benny’s mom, Falynn, laughed as she said, “We have come a long way with Benny and reading. He did not start out enjoying book time and now it’s the way he wants to start every day.”

Benny’s current favorite books are “Big Red Barn” by Margaret Wise Brown and “Curious George Visits the Farm.”

His great-grandpa is his favorite reader.

“Every time we ask him, ‘Benny, what are you going to do today with Great-Grandpa?’ he responds, ‘Read books.’ We ask, ‘How many?’ and he replies, ‘A lot.'”

In completing the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge, Benny and his family – including a challenge-completing older brother – have gained a love of literacy, early literacy skill, and enjoyed 1,000 books worth of time growing closer as a family.

Background

The concept is simple, the rewards are priceless…and you get prizes! Win-win! Read a book (any book) to your infant, and/or toddler (any age 0-5). The goal is to read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books) before your little one starts Kindergarten. If you read just one book a night you will have read 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at age five then you have two years to spare! Not only is this achievable, but you have the Reinbeck Public Library cheering you on and helping you along the way!

Here’s how it works:

–Check out stacks of library books. They are free! A librarian would even love to help you pick out the perfect books for any age, stage and interest.

–Story Times are every Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the library. Every book counts!

–You will want to stop in at every 100 books so we can celebrate this awesome achievement and get you excited for the next 100!

For more information on the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge, stop by the Reinbeck Public Library at 501 Clark Street during library hours, or visit https://www.reinbeck.lib.ia.us/services/reading-challenges.