BOISE, Idaho — Treasure Valley librarians are on a mission to get children reading as much as possible as soon as possible with the launch of a new literacy initiative.

The Boise Public Library is the latest library district to bring the national "1,000 Books Before Kindergarten" challenge to local families, encouraging parents and caregivers to read 1,000 books with their children before they start school.

"Reading with your kiddo when they're two months old, really is helping them all the way through their life, getting ready to learn and acquire knowledge," librarian Myndie Petersen said.

She said the program helps set up children to love reading for life by building essential literacy skills from an early age.

The initiative comes at a time when Idaho is seeing steady improvements

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