1000 Books Before School Programme

The Rotary Club of Taieri approached Positive Signs to help bring their “1000 Books Before School” literacy initiative to life through the design and production of a range of printed materials supporting the programme.

Inspired by a successful international initiative, the programme encourages parents and caregivers to read regularly with children aged 0–5, helping build early literacy skills while creating positive reading habits within the community.

The project centred around an interactive children’s reading booklet, supported by milestone stickers, certificates and branded tote bags designed to encourage participation and celebrate reading achievements along the way.

Our Approach

As a team with young families ourselves, this was a project that immediately resonated with us.

The design process focused heavily on creating something visually engaging and easy for children to interact with. Bright colours and playful illustrations were combined with a loose storybook-inspired theme to create a strong visual identity throughout the programme materials.

A key feature of the initiative was helping children track their progress toward the 1000-book milestone. To support this, we designed interactive log pages featuring blank book spines where each completed story could be recorded.

To complement the booklet, we also designed and produced:

Kiss-cut milestone stickers for every 100-book achievement
Printed certificates celebrating key milestones
Bright yellow tote bags screenprinted in blue to act as dedicated library book bags

These additional elements helped reinforce the programme visually while creating a more rewarding and engaging experience for tamariki and their whānau.

Subtle local details were also incorporated throughout the design, including references to Saddle Hill and books by local authors.

Print & Production

Because the booklets and supporting materials would be handled frequently by young children, durability played an important role in production decisions.

A sturdy matte stock was selected for both the cover and internal pages to provide a tactile, hard-wearing finish without excessive glare. The booklet was digitally printed in-house to ensure vibrant colour reproduction and consistency throughout the run.

A square spine finish was used to create a polished, professional result while still remaining practical and cost-effective for the programme.

The milestone stickers were produced as kiss-cut sheets for easy handling and distribution through the Mosgiel Public Library, while the tote bags were screenprinted using bright, high-contrast colours designed to feel fun and highly visible for young readers.

The final project received a Highly Commended award in the 2024 Pride in Print Awards, recognising the quality of both the design and print production involved in bringing the programme materials to life.

Key Features

Custom booklet design
Interactive reading log layout
Saddle Stitched A4 booklet
Kiss-cut milestone stickers
Printed achievement certificates
Screen printed tote bags
Durable matte stocks
High-quality digital printing
Child-friendly design and typography
Community-focused storytelling elements
Highly Commended — 2024 Pride in Print Awards

The Result

The finished materials became a central part of the Rotary Club of Taieri’s literacy initiative, helping create an engaging and rewarding experience for young readers and their families.

The programme continues to support early childhood literacy within the Taieri community through collaboration between Rotary, the Mosgiel Public Library and local families - showcasing how thoughtful design and print can help strengthen community initiatives and encourage lifelong learning.

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