Rebekah Harthan reaches 500 books in ‘1,000 Books’ program

Cresco - Since Cresco Public Library began its participation in the ‘1,000 Books Before Kindergarten’ program, one young reading enthusiasts has already reached the halfway mark.

Rebekah Harthan, daughter of Ben and Sarah Harthan of Cresco and sister of baby Madelyn, recently reached the milestone of having 500 books read to her by her parents.

The premise of ‘1,000 Books Before Kindergarten’ is to foster a love of reading in children of pre-Kindergarten age. The Cresco Public Library, which received a grant to participate in the program, features workbooks for families interested in taking part in the program. 

The workbook includes spaces to write down the title of each book. Every time a family reaches 100 books, they may come to the library and claim a prize. This read-at-your-own-rate program allows library books, books families already have at home, e-Books and audio books. 

If a child insists on having the same book read multiple times, the family may write that book down as many times as they read it. 

Sponsors for Cresco Public Library’s participation in the program include the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, the Cresco Public Library. Foundation, CUSB Bank, Cresco Bank & Trust and Cresco Friends of the Library. 

Sarah Harthan, a regular patron at Cresco Public Library, said she first heard about the program from Cresco Public Library’s Youth Services Librarian, Arla Kafka.

“Arla brought it up and mentioned she was going to try and get a grant. She got the grant and let us know about the program right away. She gave us a workbook.”

Harthan said her family’s plan is to reach the 1,000 books goal by Christmas.

“We read about 50 children’s books per week, but we might have to step it up a bit,” Harthan said. “Rebekah really likes the Max & Ruby books, Fancy Nancy, ‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,’ ‘Pinkalicious’ and any princess books. While she doesn’t know how to read yet, she likes to make up words.”

Harthan said she takes her daughters to the library twice per week in the winter and once per week during the summer.

“I let Rebekah pick out board books while we are here, and we also check out longer books to take home with us. Madelyn (Rebekah’s six-month-old sister) will sometimes fall asleep when I read. My husband Ben reads to them, as well.”

She said the prizes children receive each time they reach the 100-book mark is a big incentive for her daughter to keep going.

“She gets so excited; she wants us to keep reading to her so she can come to the library and claim a prize,” Harthan said.

The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is presently part of a special display on the library’s main floor, recognizing the month of November as ‘Family Stories Month.’ Those who have children or grandchildren of pre-Kindergarten age may ask for a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten at the front desk or attend Children’s Story Hour with Arla each Wednesday at 10 a.m. and ask for a workbook.