Program rewards reading to preschoolers

Children age 5 and younger who read with a parent can win prizes for each 100 books read.

Registrations for the nationwide “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program are being accepted locally at Marion City Library.

The program’s goal is to improve children’s language skills, expand their vocabulary, and strengthen parent-child relationships.

Participating children in the contest, which has no end date, can earn their own book after completing 10 lists of 100 books each.