Military children often feel anxiety and sadness when they are separated from their parents, but reading aloud to your child can help reduce that stress and ignite feelings of happiness and self-worth.
With the goal of bringing the military community closer, United Through Reading aims to provide one shared book to every military child. In 2023, they plan to distribute 13,000 copies of this year’s chosen book “The Kissing Hand” worldwide.
Keep scrolling to find out more about this, and other wonderful programs for staying connected to your children through the power of reading.
Book For The Military Child
In 2023, as part of Operation Storytime, United Through Reading will be launching “Book for the Military Child,” a three-year initiative aimed at connecting one million military and Veteran families through the wonderful experience of reading aloud.
The chosen book for this year’s initiative is “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn. This heartwarming story beautifully captures the essence of military-connected children by highlighting the importance of staying connected with loved ones, even when distance separates them. Penn’s book sends a powerful message that it is normal for children to express their feelings and encourages them to face their fears with bravery.
“The Kissing Hand” follows the journey of a young raccoon named Chester, who is nervous about starting school. To ease his anxieties, his mother shares a “family secret” with him called the “kissing hand”. She kisses his paw and instructs him to press it to his cheek whenever he misses her. This beautiful story resonates deeply with children of military service members, reminding them of the love and support their parents provide, even in challenging times.
In a similar vein, United Through Reading offers its own version of the “kissing hand” through Story Stations and a free app. Their program is available to all branches of the military, including Veterans, regardless of their duty status. Service Members of Veterans can record themselves reading a book and then send the video and book home to their child. The child can watch the video and follow along with the book, providing a comforting reminder of their missing parent’s presence.
To start capturing and saving your precious storytime moments, visit the United Through Reading app to sign up and request your free copy of “The Kissing Hand” today. Let us unite and celebrate our military children through the power of storytelling!
Tucker Disability Law Can Help
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