Tommy Belcher, a young patron of GEP Dodge Library in Bennington, recently completed the 500 Books Before Middle School challenge.

Tommy is the library’s first elementary school-age patron to complete the challenge. He met his goal of reading 500 books before middle school by reading 500 fiction and nonfiction chapter books. Tommy didn't repeat books and met the challenge in less than two years.   

The 500 Books Before Middle School program is a national multi-year, self-paced literacy program that encourages children to read 500 books before they enter middle school. This free program can begin during the summer before the reader enters first grade and finish the summer before the reader enters fifth grade. 

Readers may repeat books, listen to audio books and read to or with someone else to meet their 500-book goal.