What to Read

Girl reading

Featured Booklists

Developed by our Children and Youth Services librarians, these booklists highlight topics of interest.

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1000 Books Before School

Read at least three stories a day; it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read. Or the same story a thousand times! — Mem Fox

1000 Books Before School kids reading

The 1000 Books Before School campaign is designed to influence the home learning environment by encouraging families and pre-school children to develop a reading habit. Research shows that “home literacy”, or engaging with language and reading at home, increases reading readiness and prepares children to enter school with the skills they need to do well and thrive.

 

By reading just one book each evening, the 1000-book target can be achieved in less than three years and your child will be set for a lifelong love of books and learning.

 

The concept is simple:
Customers register and receive a reading record in which they track the books that they read to their children. This program is specifically for children who have not yet started school. Children can be registered from as young as newborns up until they commence school. The idea is complete the program before commencing school.
  • Reading is logged on reading records.
  • Children achieve a small incentive from the library for reaching their reading goals (prizes can be collected in branch by showing a completed reading record). 
  • After reading 1000 books with their parents, children are awarded a certificate and gift to mark their achievement. 
  • Register for this program at your closest branch library. If you have further questions please contact us.  
Congratulations to children and parents who have reached the 1000 BBS milestone.

 

Register your pre-school child now at your closest Monash Public Library branch. 

 

Please note: children who are already at school can join our School Holiday Program or the Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge.

 

We also have some excellent research tools on our website,

The State Library of Victoria VCE research guides.

State Library of Victoria online membership allows access to a huge range of e-resources from home. Become a free Access Member.

Trove is also a great place to research anything Australian and find resources.

Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge

 

You can easily identify the Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge books in our collection by the stickers on the spine. We have both digital and physical resources.

For more information and links to catalogue resources. 

Other resources

Reading Rockets

Reading Rockets is a US national public media literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.

Go to Reading Rockets

Love Reading

LoveReading exists because reading matters, and books change lives.

Go to Love Reading

Literacy Hub

Free resources and professional learning to help young students learn to read.

Go to Literacy Hub

Monash Public Library resources on learning to read

Learning to read

 

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