Connecting Hearts: Join the REACH Out & Read Together Program 💞
Connecting Hearts: Join the REACH Out & Read Together Program 💞
An Indie Program to Promote Your Book - and Connect Families
Today, I’m excited to bring you an opportunity to have your book featured in a new program. This guest post from my friend Donna Boock introduces a new initiative, REACH OUT & READ TOGETHER, which uses the power of books to connect generations. When her mother died—from loneliness?—Donna vowed to make a difference.
I’ve known Donna for a while as an author, and we’ve become friends. We joke about our names. No one can spell Pattison (Patterson, Paterson, Pattinson) and Amazon doesn’t know how to spell Boock (Book). For a search engine to get it right you have to put our names into quotes: “Darcy Pattison” or “Donna Boock”. And no one will do that. We are unsearchable (If you’re unsearchable, put the ways your name is misspelled in the comments!). I’m excited to bring you information on Donna’s program and hope you join in.
WHO IS DONNA BOOCK?
Donna grew up in Pennsylvania but has called Venice, Florida home for the last eight years. Still eight years old at heart, she writes for the elementary crowd and has published seven books including the funny Kinzie’s Kinventions series, the Claw & Order Fairy Goose Unit detective series, Moo-La-La-Ti-Da!, and Oh, My Word! When asked why she became a writer, she smiles and says she’s been telling stories since the time she convinced her kid sister she was from Jupiter and her space parents were coming back for her. Sometimes stories just happen. www.donnaboock.com.
Why REACH Out & Read 📗Together?
Loneliness is more than a feeling; it's a serious health concern affecting millions. It can lead to severe health consequences, including heart attacks, strokes, and even early death. The U.S. Surgeon General stated loneliness has similar consequences to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day!
For me, the face of loneliness is my mom's. In July 2023, she suffered either a heart attack or a stroke. There is no doubt in my mind that loneliness played a big part in her sudden and unexpected death.
Who is your face of loneliness? Hold them in your mind and heart as we discuss a simple but extraordinarily powerful solution: the REACH Out & Read Together program.
Introducing the REACH Out & Read Together Program
As independent authors, we understand the profound impact our stories can have on young readers and their families. Our words spark imagination, foster connections, and create cherished memories. But what if we could do more? What if we could extend the reach of our stories beyond the pages and into the lives of families, encouraging them to share in the joy of reading?
The REACH Out & Read Together program is a unique initiative designed to bridge the gap between generations and address the growing issue of loneliness and disconnection in families. Through this program, we create guides that pair children's books with fun, engaging activities, and discussion questions that families can enjoy together, whether they are in the same room or miles apart.
Join the REACH Program
The REACH Out & Read Together program was born from the simple yet powerful idea that reading together can bring families closer, create lasting bonds, and be an answer to our epidemic of loneliness. Magic happens when a child and their loved one share a story. But in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, finding time to connect is challenging. That’s why I created REACH guides. Each guide features a carefully selected children’s book, along with discussion questions, games, and activities designed to enhance the reading experience and encourage meaningful conversations.
Why Join the REACH Program?
Expand Your Impact: Your books become tools for connection and joy. A REACH guide provides families with resources to engage more deeply with your story and each other.
Reach New Audiences: The REACH program introduces your work to a broader audience of families seeking quality, engaging content.
Strengthen Community: Joining the REACH program connects you with a community of like-minded authors passionate about creating meaningful reading experiences.
Enhance Your Author Platform: By creating a REACH guide, you provide valuable resources to families and increase your visibility as an author. These guides help you connect with readers on a deeper level, spreading your message further and building a loyal readership.
Creating a REACH Guide: Getting Started
Select Your Book: Choose a book that resonates with families.
Submit Your Book: Submit your book in PDF format to donna@donnaboock.com for consideration. If your book is selected, you will then be contacted to:
Develop Discussion Questions: Craft questions that encourage readers to reflect on key themes.
Design Activities and Games: Create a variety of activities that families can enjoy together, adaptable for different age groups.
Incorporate Fun and Creativity: Make reading fun and interactive.
Submit Your Ideas: Submit your discussion questions and activities to donna@donnaboock.com. I will format your guide and share it with my subscribers.
Guides will be emailed to my subscribers and published in PDF format on my website. You will be credited for any content you create. For examples of previous REACH guides, please visit: REACH Guides.
My goal is to publish one guide per month. Please note, I serve a children’s book population and will consider picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade novels only. Sorry, no young adult or adult books will be considered.
Join Us in Making a Difference
I invite you to join the REACH program and help create a world where families connect through the joy of reading. Together, we can provide families with the tools they need to bond, learn, and grow through our stories. If you’re interested in creating a REACH guide for your book or have any questions, please reach out (pun totally intended). Let’s work together to bring our stories to life in new and exciting ways, fostering a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.
Let’s do this together!
Donna Boock
Children's Author, Reading Advocate, & Founder of the REACH Out & Read Together Program
A wonderful idea to connect kids with grands while promoting reading! I'm a retired teacher turned MG (ages 9-12+) mystery author and will send Donna my book's PDF. Thank you for this opportunity.
Great idea. Can't wait to see how it works. As a senior myself, I see a lot of lonliness--especially in widows. Now to choose which book since many of mine are family focused.