ALGONQUIN – Literacy is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child, and learning the skills needed for reading and writing begins at infancy into childhood.

Beginning Jan. 7, the Algonquin Area Public Library District will kick off its 1,001 Books Before Kindergarten program.

1,001 Books Before Kindergarten, a reading program for families with children from birth through age 5, was designed to get parents actively involved in reading to their children from birth and help foster a lifelong love of reading as children gain pre-literacy skills.