Program Overview

Bremen Public Library is challenging all Kindergarten – 5th graders to read 500 Books Before Middle School. The goal is for you to develop lifelong reading habits, so there are no assigned books and no book reports. You can read whatever you want during elementary school for this program.

How the Program Works

1. Enroll your child online or in person at Bremen Public Library and receive your 500 Books Before Middle School folder.
2. After each set of 50 books is read and counted, take your folder to the library and get a prize. Remember, every book counts! Record every title, each time you read it. Repetition is accepted and encouraged.
3. When you have read and counted your 500th book, take your folder to the library for your completion prize. A staff member will take a picture of your child to post online, and you will receive your completion prize.
4. Don’t stop at 500! Keep on reading together; there’s more learning ahead. We encourage you to also sign up for BPL’s 100 Books Before High School and 50 Books Before Graduation programs.

Click here to enroll

Guidelines

• Readers are eligible to sign up the summer before they begin Kindergarten and have until the end of 5th grade to finish this challenge.
• All reading formats count – print books, digital books, and audiobooks.
• Parents can read to their children at the beginning of this program and work on moving towards the goal of the child reading independently.

For a printable reading log.