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1,000 Books Before Kindergarten (Birth to Age 6)

Why read 1,000 books before kindergarten? Reading high-quality books at home is one of the best ways to get your child ready for school.

Reading 1,000 books sounds like a lot, but if you read just 3 picture books with your child every day, you will read 1,095 books in a year! Get started by stopping by our library to pick up a reading log and booklist.

Once your child has completed 1,000 books, you can stop by the Hillsboro Library to pick up a free book, sticker, and a certificate of completion.

Oregon Battle of the Books (Grades 3-5)

OBOB Book Club

Thursdays
November 6 & 20, December 4 & 18
January 15 & 29, February 5 & 19
3:30 to 4:30 pm | Brookwood Library

Join us for book discussions, trivia questions, and crafting centered around the grades 3-5 OBOB books.

Registration opens 45 days prior to each session.

2025-2026 OBOB Book List

Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek
Elf Dog and Owl Head by M. T. Anderson
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lại
Just Like Click by Sandy Grubb
The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
The Million Dollar Race by Matthew Ross Smith
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Odder by Katherine Applegate
The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow by Elaine Dimopoulos
The Secret Garden on 81st Street by Ivy Noelle Weir and Amber Padilla
Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler

Link to OBOB books for grades 3-5 in our collection.

OBOB Mock Battle

Coming in January 2026

Take on other teams in a head-to-head mock battle following the rules of a real OBOB competition! Test your knowledge of the 3rd – 5th grade titles with a fresh slate of questions. Space is limited, so everyone participating must register. Please only register for ONE mock battle so everyone has a chance to compete. Registration will open in December 2025.

OBOB Battle Royale

Coming in Late January - Early February 2026

Welcome to the ultimate test of OBOB knowledge! Compete as a team or individually to answer the most difficult questions about this year’s titles.

OBOB Book Lists for Other Grade Levels

For additional resources visit WCCLS.

Book Clubs

Beginning Readers

3rd Wednesdays of each month, 3:30 - 4 pm | Virtual
Registration required

Designed especially for readers just beginning to read independently. For grades K-2. Registration is required for this Zoom book club. You may pick up your own copy of the book to keep after we process your registration. Registration opens 45 days before each book club, and registration closes a week before each session.

Primeros Lectores

3er miércoles de cada mes, 3:30 - 4:30 pm | Shute Park
Requiere registrarse

Un club diseñado específicamente para niños que están aprendiendo a leer. Grados K-2 Este evento requiere de inscripción. Al final del evento podrás llevarte una copia del libro.

OBOB Book Club

Read to the Dogs

Build confidence, practice reading aloud, and have fun—one-on-one with a calm, trained therapy dog and their handler. Each private 20-minute session gives students a safe, non-judgmental space to read at their own pace.

Who: Students in Grades K–12
What: 20-minute private reading session with a certified therapy dog and handler
Why: Improve fluency, boost confidence, reduce reading anxiety, and make reading enjoyable
What to bring: A favorite book (or choose one at the library) and your curiosity!
How to sign up: Register online to reserve a 20-minute slot.

Sessions are supervised and designed to be welcoming for all reading levels. Perfect for nervous readers, emerging readers, or anyone who’d like a friendly canine audience.

Storytimes

Join us for a fun and interactive storytimes at the library! Each session includes a mix of picture books, songs, rhymes, and movement activities designed to spark imagination, build early literacy skills, and foster a love of reading. Storytimes are a great way for kids to connect with other children, practice listening, and develop language skills in a playful, welcoming environment.

Storytimes are free, and no registration is required—just drop in and enjoy!

Learn More

StoryWalks^®

A StoryWalk^® is a fun & educational activity you can enjoy while you walk in one of four parks across Hillsboro. Picture book pages are mounted in frames along a path and may include activity prompts.

Locations:

Shute Park, begins near the Hillsboro Community Senior Center

Hidden Creek Park East, begins near the sprayground

Evergreen Park, begins near NE Overlook Drive and continutes toward NE Amberglen Parkway

Century Oaks Park, begins near entrance off SE 62rd Avenue.

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montepelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms Ferguson.

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