Children

The Farmers Branch Manske Library is proud of the many programs, classes, and services provided for children of all ages.

Please see the Youth Calendar for a full list of programs and story times!
Readers are Leaders with Denise Wallace
  1. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten
  2. Reading with Pictures
  3. Reading Made Easy
  4. The Magic of Fiction
  5. Homework A-Z

Welcome!

The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program encourages you to read 1000 books with your child by the time he or she starts kindergarten. "You are your child's first teacher," Library Director Denise Wallace said. "We hope that this program makes learning simple and fun. The gift of reading with your children provides memories and knowledge that will benefit them for the rest of their lives." 

Why is this program important?1000 Books Alligator Logo

Research shows that reading books aloud to your children provides valuable early literacy skills that lead to greater success in school. Before children learn to read, they need five early literacy skills. Join us at weekly story times to hear more literacy tips related to these five literacy skills.

  • Phonological Awareness or the ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds words.
  • Vocabulary or knowing the meaning of words, concepts, and ideas.
  • Print Convention or noticing print, knowing how to handle a book, and knowing how to follow the words on a page.
  • Background Knowledge or the prior knowledge a child has learned.
  • Letter Knowledge or knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds, and recognizing letters everywhere. 

Please see the 1000 Books before Kindergarten Instructions below to get started. Head over the Children's Desk to sign up and receive your first Reading Log today! 

1000 Books Before Kindergarten Instructions

Books to Read Before Kindergarten