United Through Reading has announced “Book for the Military Child” for 2023 as part of Operation Storytime, its three-year initiative to connect the next one million military and Veteran family members through the read aloud experience. The Book for the Military Child unites and celebrates military children across the globe through their shared experiences.
This year’s selection is Audrey Penn’s “The Kissing Hand.” In this story, Penn shares a message that it’s normal and common for children to express their feelings and that they can move forward with bravery.
The Kissing Hand captures something military-connected kids can relate to—the need to stay connected to a loved one, even when you can’t be with them. United Through Reading’s goal is to bring the military community together with one shared book for every military child. As part of this program, it will distribute 13,000 copies around the world in 2023.
The Kissing Hand “is a story about a young raccoon named Chester who was anxious about leaving home and going to school. So his mother decided to share a ‘family secret’ with him: the ‘kissing hand.’ She gave him a kiss on his paw and told him to press the kiss to his cheek whenever he missed her,” according to StoryOnline.
Like Chester the Raccoon, children of military service members may face anxious moments that their civilian counterparts do not. When a parent leaves home for a training exercise or deployment, young children may be unable to articulate their fears and worries, but know just the same that there is something in the air at home. When children relocate for frequent moves, being the new student at a new preschool or school can feel overwhelming.
The Kissing Hand offers a tangible way to recenter anxious emotions by remembering a parent’s small but meaningful gesture in order to recall the love and support of a parent during tough times.
In much the same way, United Through Reading offers a “kissing hand” of its own through its Story Stations and free app. United Through Reading’s free program is available to all branches of the military, regardless of duty status, including Veterans.
Service members or Veterans will read a book while being video recorded and then send the video and book back home to the child. The child at home watches the video and follows along with the book. When a child may be especially missing a parent who is away for military service, hearing the parent’s voice and seeing their face serves as a calming, loving reminder of the parent’s presence.
To get started saving your storytime moments, visit utr.org/app to sign up and request your free copy today.
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Hi. I am a surviving spouse of a veteran and would love to share a children’s book that I helped publish this year. It is a beautifully illustrated children’s book written by a world renowned 6-time Olympic medalist who shares her personal story using ten inspirational keys to help kids of all ages unlock and realize their dreams. It may be the perfect book choice for your reading program in 2024 as the summer Olympics are set to be held the same year. Please contact us!
I’m interested in submitting my autistic son’s dinosaur book. How can I do that?
I was doing this years ago when my grandkids were little. Recordings were done on a dvd and I would send with the story disc. It was a lot of fun to do and they could follow along with the book.
Sounds like a move in the right direction. Has anyone reached out to the librarians around the country? Local librarians near me would love to be included in this. They can be made aware of the military child’s needs and help them find the books.
I have Grandchildren who live with me, but I don’t need to send them a recording. Teaching one of them how to sound out letters would have been helpful. I’ll try the bookstore for books I can read one of them.
It would be better if the military children could receive books in the snail mail that are tangible and not via a screened app as these children already have too much screen time and it’s been proven their retention of material from screw time is negligible compared to reading a hard paper copy. This would serve the purpose of anticipation and leaning how the mail system works too.
Where was these people during the Vietnam war? My freshman year of high school I was in Pleasanton,CA , my Dad was in Vietnam. My sophomore year was in Miami,FL as far away from home as we could be. My junior year was in Tacoma,WA, my Dad was set back to Vietnam. My senior year was in Killeen,TX. No body gave a dam about me then. Still I served over 15 years, including deployment to Iraq at age 53. I was injured, in Hospice care now. The VA has fought my care for years, WHY?
How do you ask for the book?
How are books or story’s smelted? thanks for the info.
Where and when is the Pact Act Event in South Carolina ????
This is great