A Family Book Club: Shared Reading Through Kinship Care
Lizzy Taylor, a proud tri-service veteran, served in the Royal Navy, the Army and more recently, over seven years in the RAF - an unusual journey that she says has shaped so much of who she is today. Now, during Kinship Carers Week, she is sharing another important part of her story: caring for her two grandchildren, aged five and six.
“Becoming their carer changed my life completely and brought our family closer together in a way I never expected.”
As a kinship carer, she has found Reading Force’s free books and scrapbooks to be a simple but meaningful way for the family to spend time together.
“We sit down, read the book out loud, and then fill in the scrapbook with drawings, stickers and what we thought about the story. It’s become our little ritual.”
The children look forward to their shared reading time, which provides a calm break from the frenzy of everyday life.
“It’s such a lovely bonding experience. It gives us dedicated, calm time together away from screens and busy life, and the children really look forward to it. We have a lot of giggles doing it.”
For Lizzy, talking about the books is just as important as reading them. They discuss what made them laugh, what they would do differently and how the stories make them feel.
“I haven’t been in a formal book club for a while, but this feels like our own little family book club.”
She believes reading for pleasure can be particularly powerful for children who may have experienced difficult or unsettled times.
“It builds confidence, language and empathy, but more than that it gives children an escape and a way to understand their own feelings. For children who have had a difficult start, that is priceless.”
The free resources also mean the children have books of their own to treasure, without cost being a barrier.
“Being gifted lovely new books that are ours to keep makes the children feel special and valued.”
Her experience also highlights the importance of Reading Force’s broad eligibility criteria. Military families take many different forms, including veterans, kinship families, and those affected by a relationship breakdown or bereavement.
“No one should feel excluded, and Reading Force really recognises that.”
Her message to other military families is simple: “Just sign up! It’s free, it’s simple, it’s fun, and it gives you precious time together.”
And to those who support Reading Force, she has an equally powerful message:
“You are funding connection, confidence and comfort. You’re helping military families, in all their forms, to talk, to bond and to heal through stories. It’s a small cost for a huge impact.”