Alex Is A Smart Cookie

Alex Urlacher reached a major milestone by reading 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten! He is an active participant in the Summer Reading Program and makes time to read each night before bed. Alex's favorite stories include "Fly Guy" and "Bad Seed Goes to the Library" as well as books about trains. He enjoys playing hockey and T-ball, going to parks, building Legos and train tracks, and swimming. When he grows up, Alex wants to work with his dad. Alex, age 5, is the son of Jake and Jackie Urlacher.

To encourage a love of reaching in children, the Sidney-Richland County Library is promoting "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten", a nationwide program that encourages parents and caregivers to read aloud with their children every day. Research continually shows that children who are read aloud to every day before kindergarten will have higher scores and more success when they begin school. Most importantly, sharing books with children promotes a lifelong love of books and learning.

The theme of the Sidney-Richland County Library program is "Reading is Magic". Children receive a small prize at each 100-level milestone, and at the end of the program, participants earn a certificate and T-shirt for successful completion. This program is free to children ages 0-5 and their families.