1-23-2026

Thank you to Prairie Lakes Library System for the $200 grant for our 1000 Books B4 Kindergarten program.

I have vague memories of the program beginning back in the days when I was a ETLPL Board Trustee for the ETCSD and Alison Senkevitch was the library director. The memories are vague enough that it’s possible she simply created new promotional materials for an existing program and I’m remembering it incorrectly.

Alison definitely created a flower motif for the idea of growing readers. The library still has some of the flower stickers she created for each 100 book level. The flower poster she drew and colored was still on display until the patrons who completed the program were in high school.

Ms Maria revamped the administrative pieces of the program when she started in 2024, keeping the flower motif. Later that year, PLLS created a new support position for inclusive and youth services librarians. Kate Davis, that hire, first turned her attention to revamping the program again. For 2025, Kate built the $200 per library grant into her budget.

Library’s were able to make their own choices for using the money. Ms Maria chose to purchase book bags for participants. With the help of Scott Illoncaie at Dynamic Awards in Mukwonago, we have striking dark blue bags with the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten logo. It’s the perfect size for picture books and made from sturdy material by Port Authority.

Sign up those little ones anytime. The program can be started at any time. At the rate of one book a day it can be completed in three years. We started reading board books to Emma when she was four months old. Between naps and bedtime stories, I read at least six books a day to her in the summer. Back then my goal was to read every picture book in our public library before she graduated to chapter books. Since we lived in West Allis at the time and the children’s section is larger than ETLPL’s main level, it didn’t happen. We definitely read 1000 books though, and I discovered many authors and books which serves me well today.

Now is the time for adults to join the book club and help us select 2026 books. Every eight months or so, members of the book club are asked for book suggestions including a brief synopsis, page length, and publication year. The suggestions are collated and offered up for voting. Clear winners are scheduled for the group to read based on number of holds (those with a lot of holds are scheduled for later months hoping depend will taper off) and length (alternating long and short books with a short book in December).

We are currently taking suggestions. Any interested readers should submit their suggestions by the end of the month. Voting will take place during the February meetings.

Reading Now: House Rules by Jodi Picoult (February Book Club selection)

Listening to Now: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones