We’re really happy to announce that Eimear has joined the Reading Force team as Resource & Social Media Coordinator. Welcome Eimear! Here she shares some favourite books and how she first heard about Reading Force…
Can you tell us how/when you first heard about RF?
I first came across Reading Force back in 2020. I remember it really well, actually! My husband was on a 6 month deployment and I had two little toddlers at the time. A neighbour told us about Reading Force and I saw they were doing a Friday Giveaway with Elmer and the Rainbow. Elmer was my eldest’s favourite so we entered the competition and the rest is history!
You are part of a navy family, do you have thoughts about the role books can play in military family life?
Military life can be different for so many of us. Sometimes we are lucky enough to have some stability where we can read together after school or before bed, and sometimes we have periods of time where we are separated from a parent or family members for months at a time. I think books can be such a powerful source of connection and can act as a bridge that brings separated family members back together through a shared experience.
We have had so many video calls where the children don’t quite know what to say to the person on the other end of the phone. Quite often, my children will bring things they love to show whoever they’re talking to. So many times, they have brought a book that they’re reading, or they’ll get a favourite book they used to read with Daddy at bedtime before he left, and they’ll open it up so he can read it to them again.
We’re thrilled to have you on the team – do you want to tell us a little about why you chose to join the RF team?
Thank you – I’m thrilled to be here! Books have always played a huge role in my life – I’m rarely without a book on my person; whether it’s in the car, in case I’m early for school pick up, or in my handbag, in case I have a few minutes whilst waiting for an appointment. If I had to paint a picture in my head of what Reading Force means to my children and I, my mind conjures up this bright, smiling yellow sunshine.
Receiving joyful things during times of sadness or separation has always been referred to in our house as “Happy Post” and Reading Force post arriving is definitely Happy Post! I’ve seen first-hand the enjoyment, engagement and connection that Reading Force books and scrapbooks have given my children and I am so incredibly excited and privileged to be able to share that with other families.
At RF HQ we all love children’s and YA books – no matter how old we are! Would you like to tell us about some of your favourite children’s books?
Something I’m really enjoying as a parent is rediscovering old favourites through my children. One of my children has discovered an obsession with all things Percy the Park Keeper which is one of my absolute favourite series of books, ever since I was little. My eldest and I have been enjoying reading Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell together. We like to read it in the evenings after school and take turns to read to each other a chapter at a time. The Little Women series by Louisa May Alcott has always been another favourite of mine – Little Men was my most-loved of the four as Jo was my favourite March sister and I loved seeing her character mature into a mentor and teacher, as well as enjoying the shenanigans the boys would get up to!
What are you currently reading?
Currently, I am almost finished reading All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker and I adore it. It’s incredibly clever, extremely moving and has me utterly hooked to find out how it ends. It’s about two childhood best friends who are torn apart (I can’t say why!) and their journeys and stories weave together as we follow them through life with Saint devoting herself to find Patch no matter the cost. If you’re a fan of a thriller and love a really emotional read, this one is for you! It’s the first time I’ve read anything by him and it’s definitely motivated me to try some of his other books.
Thanks Eimear! And great to have you on board!