Military children deserve to be celebrated and to connect through their shared experiences. We’re helping grow that connection with each other and between military parents and their children with our new initiative, Book for the Military Child. You’ll hear from our program manager, Laura Steiner, on the book we chose, The Kissing Hand. You’ll also hear from the author of the book, Audrey Penn, along with special guest and longtime military spouse and mom, Melodye Whitesell.This year’s book for the military child: The Kissing HandLearn more about Laura SteinerLearn more about Audrey Penn Visit our resources pageDownload the United Through Reading app today and request your copy of The Kissing Hand. You can even watch a special Spotlight Video of Audrey Penn reading her book just for our military families.

Ever wondered what it takes to change the world? Meet author Brad Meltzer in this special bonus episode of Ready for Reading, hosted by United Through Reading’s CEO, Tim Farrell. Brad’s Ordinary People Change the World children’s book series are always featured on our reading lists because they illustrate just how normal the most accomplished of people were before they became the legends we know today. Listen to Brad discuss his experience with military families, why he wrote these books, and why, especially for military kids, the real heroes are the ones they live with every day.From this show:About Brad MeltzerVisit his webpageLearn more about the Ordinary People Change the World seriesView his latest book, I am Temple GrandinChris Eliopoulos, the illustrator of the seriesOrder your book from the Ordinary People Change the World series from utrapp.orgLearn more about UTR and how you can strengthen your military family’s bond through reading at UTR.org.- Download UTR’s reading app: utr.org/app- Help keep military families reading by supporting UTR: Give.utr.org- What do you think of the Ready for Reading podcast? Review us in your podcast app, or let us know at [email protected]

Samantha Hagan-Lingad, the woman behind our book selection, joins us on this episode with special guest interviewer and Communications Director at UTR, Jessica Hall. They discuss how United Through Reading chooses books for our library, why it’s important for those books to be diverse, and some great titles that you can read to your kids and request from our library, especially for kids in the 4 to 8-year-old age range. Jessica even gets some advice on how she can pick books for her young daughters, and Samantha’s advice may surprise you.Resources from this show: United Through Reading’s book listLlama Llama Holiday DramaLlama Llama SeriesMo Willems booksBerenstain Bears Night Before ChristmasUTR book recommendations:Books Celebrating Black AmericansBooks Celebrating Asian AmericansBooks Celebrating Hispanic HeritageBooks Celebrating Women in HistoryRescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing FriendshipKnight OwlThe Book with No Pictures (AKA “The Silly Book”!)This episode is brought to you by our friends at Veterans United Home Loans. Veterans United Home Loans is dedicated to helping Veterans and military families become homeowners.In two short decades, they’ve closed over half a million VA Loans. But they don’t measure their success in numbers, they measure it in living their values every day: Be Passionate and Have Fun, Deliver Results with Integrity and Enhance Lives.United Through Reading is proud to be a part of Veterans United Home Loans' effort to lift up military families and communities across the country.Download UTR’s reading app: utr.org/appHelp keep military families reading by supporting UTR: Give.utr.org

Marty Martinez is the CEO of Reach Out and Read and a champion of children’s health. He and Josie discuss why reading builds connection, and also why that connection and bonding is so important to a child’s healthy development. They also discuss the research on why reading routines are so important for kids and families, and how those little moments of reading matter.Books mentioned in this show:Corduroy, by Don FreemanBerenstain BearsThe Bear in the Forest, by David CrossleyMore Resources:Reach Out and ReadLearn more about Marty MartinezReach Out and Read’s book catalogUnited Through Reading’s book catalogArticle: The Best Choose Your Own Adventure BooksThis episode is brought to you by our friends at Veterans United Home Loans. Veterans United Home Loans is dedicated to helping Veterans and military families become homeowners.In two short decades, they’ve closed over half a million VA Loans. But they don’t measure their success in numbers, they measure it in living their values every day: Be Passionate and Have Fun, Deliver Results with Integrity and Enhance Lives. United Through Reading is proud to be a part of Veterans United Home Loans' effort to lift up military families and communities across the country.Learn more about UTR and how you can strengthen your military family’s bond through reading at UTR.org.Download UTR’s reading app Want to help keep military families reading? Support UTR todayWhat do you think of the Ready for Reading podcast? Review us in your podcast app, or let us know

If you have a military teen, this podcast is a must-listen. Matt and Elena join Josie and share stories on what it’s like to be a military teen and how that led to the creation of their organization, Bloom Military Teens. They also talk about what books they’ve found helpful over the years.Books mentioned in this show:Dear Mil TeenThe Field Guide to the Military TeenPercy Jackson seriesMoon Over ManifestPachinko (best for older readers)Other links:Bloom Military Teens websiteNational Military Family AssociationMore about Matthew Oh and Elena AshburnThis episode is brought to you by our friends at Veterans United Home Loans. Veterans United Home Loans is dedicated to helping Veterans and military families become homeowners.In two short decades, they’ve closed over half a million VA Loans. But they don’t measure their success in numbers, they measure it in living their values every day: Be Passionate and Have Fun, Deliver Results with Integrity and Enhance Lives. United Through Reading is proud to be a part of Veterans United Home Loans' effort to lift up military families and communities across the country.Learn more about UTR and how you can strengthen your military family’s bond through reading at UTR.org.Download UTR’s reading app Want to help keep military families reading? Support UTR todayWhat do you think of the Ready for Reading podcast? Review us in your podcast app, or let us know

Victoria Jamieson is the author of the graphic novel and New York Times Best Seller Roller Girl, and she joins Josie to discuss how she became an author and illustrator and why graphic novels are great reads for kids. In this interview, you’ll hear Victoria talk about her hit book Roller Girl as well as her most recent book When Stars Are Scattered. Josie and Victoria also share a few more of their best book recommendations for military tweens.Books mentioned in this show:Roller GirlWhen Stars Are ScatteredRamona and Beezus by Beverly Cleary and Jacqueline RogersWings of Fire by Tui T. SutherlandScience Comics: Plagues: The Microscopic Battlefield by Falynn KochSmile by Raina TelgemeierSquish by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew HolmNew Kid, by Jerry CraftHuda F Are You? by Huda FahmyThe Terrible Two, by Mac Barnett, Jory John & Kevin CornellFind more information about Victoria JamiesonLearn more about UTR and how you can strengthen your military family’s bond through reading at UTR.org.Download UTR’s reading app Want to help keep military families reading? Support UTR todayWhat do you think of the Ready for Reading podcast? Review us in your podcast app, or let us know

Dr. Dorinda Williams is an infant and early childhood mental health expert with Zero to Three, an organization dedicated to ensuring that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life.She’s also a military spouse and has spent much of her career working with military families. Dorinda is the author of Over There, a book that can be found on the bookshelves of many military families and a particular favorite here at United Through Reading.In this interview, you’ll hear what’s going on in a baby’s brain in the early years, why positive early experiences like reading are so important for small kids, and why Dorinda ended up writing her book Over There. You’ll also discover a few great books for our littlest military kids.Resources from this show:Over There on Military One Source: Daddy version & Mommy versionHome Again on Military One SourceBabies on the Homefront appZero to Three’s article, Read Early and OftenSelf-care resources on Military One SourceOther books for 0-3 military kids:Found by Salina YoonBooks from UTR's LibraryFind more information about Dorinda Williams

United Through Reading’s own Molly Haskin, a licensed, certified Speech Language Pathologist, joins Josie to discuss what reading looks like at every reading stage, from newborn all the way through the teen years.As an active duty spouse, Molly is very familiar with military life and how reading can be an important part of bonding as a family. And, she’s an expert in the world of how reading connects to speaking and communicating, so you’ll hear fascinating information on everything from the science of reading to how reading with your children can provide helpful information when moving and changing schools.Resources from this show:reading tips for different stages: https://unitedthroughreading.org/what-reading-aloud-looks-like-at-different-ages/Books for working on speech sounds by age:AlphabearsBuzz Said the BeeCatch a Little FoxEach Peach Pear PlumA Giraffe and a HalfThe Hungry ThingJamberrySee You Later AlligatorSheep in a JeepYours Till Banana SplitsZoophabetsLearn more about UTR and how you can strengthen your military family’s bond through reading at UTR.org.Download UTR’s reading app: utr.org/appHelp keep military families reading by supporting UTR: Give.utr.orgWhat do you think of the Ready for Reading podcast? Review us in your podcast app, or let us know at [email protected]

Patty Barron is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy and she joins us in Episode 2 to discuss the programs and resources her office provides to help support military families. She also shares how the DoD is working to make accessing resources even easier through technology.Patty is a military spouse and the mother of a military spouse, so she has a deep understanding of what military family life is like. You’ll hear her share stories about how books influenced her life and how they played a role in raising her military kids.Resources from this show:Military One SourceListen to Military One Source’s podcastSECO (Spouse Education & Career Opportunities)The Berenstain Bears Trouble at SchoolFind more information about Patty Barron, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family PolicyLearn more about UTR and how you can strengthen your military family’s bond through reading at UTR.org.Download UTR’s reading app: utr.org/appHelp keep military families reading by supporting UTR: Give.utr.orgWhat do you think of the Ready for Reading podcast? Review us in your podcast app, or let us know at [email protected]

For over 30 years, United Through Reading has been helping connect service members and their families through reading aloud, no matter the distance. With our new CEO, Tim Farrell, on board, we are excited to look to the future for how we can support our military families with even more opportunities to bond through reading.Listen to Tim and Josie discuss Tim’s background as an Airman, what he’s learned in his post-active duty career working with military nonprofits, and how United Through Reading can offer military families even more opportunities to connect through reading.Tim also shared many of his favorite children’s books, listed below.Goodnight MoonThe Giving TreeThe Very Hungry CaterpillarGood Night Scarlet Knights by Rutgers UniversityFind more information about Tim: https://unitedthroughreading.org/staff/tim-farrell/Learn more about UTR and how you can strengthen your military family’s bond through reading at UTR.org.Download UTR’s reading app: utr.org/appHelp keep military families reading by supporting UTR: Give.utr.orgWhat do you think of the Ready for Reading podcast? Review us in your podcast app, or let us know at [email protected]