For five-year-old Noah Denson, the start of kindergarten won’t just mark the beginning of school, it will also celebrate the end of a remarkable reading journey.

This summer, Noah completed the White House Public Library’s “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” challenge, a free program designed to promote early literacy and spark a lifelong love of reading.

For Noah and his family, the program became more than just a checklist; it became a shared experience.

“We started reading with him when he was just a few months old,” says Noah’s mother, Keah Denson, a first-grade teacher at Christian Community School in White House. “We’d already done the program once with our oldest daughter, so it felt natural to include Noah, too. At bedtime, each of my kids picks a book, one storybook and one Bible story, and we read together every night. Over time, it all added up.”

Launched to encourage families to read aloud to their young children, the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program breaks the milestone into smaller steps. The program itself makes reading feel like a celebration. With every 100 books, children earn new incentives including activity sheets, memory game cards, and eventually a certificate, a reusable library bag, a new book, and even a gift card.

But the biggest reward? Pride.

“He was so excited when he finished,” Keah says. “He really understood that it was a big deal. It took years of reading together, and now he sees himself as a reader. That’s huge.”

As a teacher, Keah knows how important early exposure to books can be. But for Noah, the experience was about more than literacy -- it was about fun, connection, and family time. From dinosaur adventures to monster truck tales, he couldn’t get enough.

“He loves all the typical ‘boy books,’” Keah laughs. “Dinosaurs, monster trucks, and anything that goes fast. But what’s been sweetest to see is how he shares that love of reading with his younger sister, who’s two. He’ll take a book from her room and say, ‘You might like this one.’ It’s created this beautiful bond between them.”

As Noah heads to Christian Community School for kindergarten this fall, his love of books is going with him. He even attended a “kindergarten boot camp” to meet future classmates and teachers…an experience that left him buzzing with anticipation.

“He keeps asking when he gets to go,” Keah says. “He’s so excited.”

The Denson family isn’t finished with the program, either. Noah’s little sister is already working her way through her own reading log, with big brother cheering her on every step of the way.

More than anything, Noah’s story is a reminder of the power of reading, especially when it starts early and is supported at home.

“You don’t have to be a teacher to do this,” Keah emphasizes. “Just taking the time to read to your kids makes a huge difference. It has not only helped Noah but has also inspired our entire family.”

So, what’s next for Noah? Probably another stack of books …and maybe even a recommendation for his sister.

For more information about local library programs, like the 1,000 Books Challenge, visit your local branch's website:

Gallatin

Goodlettsville

Hendersonville

Millersville

Portland

Springfield

West Moreland

White House