Read 1,000 books before kindergarten?

LANSING, Mich. – Angela Zeigerbacher was well aware of the value of reading to young children, but she was taken aback when the pediatrician who had helped deliver her daughter earlier that day suggested she start reading to her right away.

“And I was kind of like, ‘What do you read to a newborn?' ... and the pediatrician said, ‘Anything'.”

When Zeigerbacher and her husband, Brett, brought Anja home to East Lansing from the hospital a few days later in the summer of 2020, she dug through boxes of books from her childhood. The couple began reading to Anja every night before bed.

Zeigerbacher is three years into the “1,000 books before kindergarten” challenge with Anja. The challenge is a nationwide effort by educators and advocates to encourage early childhood literacy and lifelong reading. The family has read 762 books together so far.

Zeigerbacher is hoping to expand the effort and increase the love of reading for children in the Lansing area.

One of her close friends, Elise Jajuga, manages A Novel Concept, a bookstore in downtown Lansing. Zeigerbacher approached her with an idea − to curate a subscription box for children's books for Lansing area families.

“It's important to get books not just in the hands of kids at school, but in their hands at home,” Zeigerbacher said.

‘There’s so much competing for kids’ attention’

Zeigerbacher feels that reading, especially for young children, is not as emphasized or encouraged as it was when she was a kid, and she wanted to make reading fun for her daughter and other children her age. She also want