What if you could earn prizes, explore literary worlds, and walk into high school with the confidence of a seasoned reader? That’s the mission behind the Aurora Public Library District’s 100 Books Before High School program. Designed to inspire and reward young readers in grades fourth through eighth, this program invites students to read 100 books at their own pace, while gaining valuable skills and discovering the joy of reading along the way.
Launched as an extension of the popular 1000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative, 100 Books Before High School encourages children to make time for reading in a busy world. “Around grades fourth and fifth, kids start having more activities and demands on their time. Reading can start to feel like homework,” explained teen librarian Phoebe. “We wanted a way to motivate kids to keep up their independent reading—which in turn improves grades, communication skills, and much more.” Unlike traditional reading assignments, this program champions freedom of choice. There’s no set list of books. Students can read graphic novels, audiobooks, fiction, nonfiction—whatever interests them! Literacy comes in many forms, and we hope our participants will explore forms of reading that work best for them.
The 100 Books Before High School program offers incentives to library bookworms while also welcoming new readers with its simple challenge format. Any student between fourth and eighth grade can join the program at any time. Participants track their reading using a provided log, and for every 20 books they complete, they earn fun prizes. “Even if they start eighth grade and have only a year to read 100 books, they can do it!” said teen librarian Flannery. “When they finish the program, they receive their final prize and a boost of confidence going into high school!” Prizes include everything from earbuds and book lights to gift cards and stress balls—little boosts that keep kids motivated.
Twelve-year-old David recently completed the program and shared his experience with us. He joined with the goal of exploring different subjects—and quickly discovered a love for the horror genre with series like Goosebumps. “I discovered a lot of different books. One I liked most was Greeking Out. I didn’t even know about it before,” he said. David’s favorite part of the program? “The prizes,” he admits. But he also understands the deeper purpose. “Kids need to practice reading a lot of books, because once they’re in high school, they’ll need to read tons.” As summer rolls in, David is already on to his next reading endeavor—he’s now enrolled in our Summer Reading Adventure, ready to keep turning pages.
The 100 Books Before High School program is more than a challenge—it’s a pathway to discovery, confidence, and lifelong learning. Whether a student reads slowly or devours a series in a weekend, this program celebrates every page along the journey. For more information, please visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/100Books or contact the library at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.