Storybook Soldiers

" So many of our troops have to spend long periods away from their young children, often missing some of the treasured milestones of childhood that are taken for granted by the general public. Storybook Soldiers will no doubt help in bringing families a little closer, making the long months of separation somewhat easier to bear. "

General Sir Richard Dannatt
KCB CBE MC ADC Gen
Patron
September 2008

Scroll down to read all about the Storybook Soldiers Scheme

What is Storybook Soldiers ?

Storybook Soldiers provides a link between parents who are deployed and their children.

Soldiers are recorded reading a bedtime story for their children. Music and sound effects are added by trained volunteer editors.

The CD is sent to the child who can listen to it, not just at bedtime but on car journeys and at other times of the day.

Storybook Soldiers was set up at the beginning of 2007 by Kirsty Alderson and Rosemary Meeke, who work in the Army Education Centre in Tidworth. The scheme is now available across the Army and has been copied by the Royal Navy and the RAF.

How do I make a Storybook CD for my child ?

Just contact us to find out where your nearest Recording Centre is - our contact details are at the top of this page.

How does it work ?

Soldiers can record stories either before or during deployment.

Many units buy their own recording equipment. After being given training by the Storybook Soldiers Team, they can start making recordings before deployment and then take the recorder with them to make more in Theatre.

Recordings are sent back to Tidworth or Rheindahlen with accompanying paper work for editing and dispatching.

There are Recording Centres in Theatre Education Centres and a network of other Centres across Army locations worldwide.

Storybook Soldiers aims to provide a straightforward and standard service that is available to all deploying soldiers, of any rank and from any unit, small or large.

If you are interested in the scheme, you should ring the Storybook Soldiers team in Tidworth. We will either set you up as a Recording Centre or put you in touch with someone who is recording in your area.

Making a Recording :

The recording session takes about 15 minutes. The soldier starts off with a greeting to his child, then reads the story and ends by saying goodnight.

Stories should take no longer than 5-10 minutes to read.

There is a limit of one story per child.

Editing a story can take up to three hours. All our editors are volunteers drawn from the dependant community who are trained by the Team.

There is no cost to the soldier !

Children love these CDs - and Mothers, too, enjoy hearing their husbands' voices. Their letters of thanks complete the story ... you can read a selection of them in between the photographs on this page.

The Storybook Alliance

Storybook Soldiers is in partnership with "Storybook Dads", a registered charity formed in 2002 and based at Dartmoor Prison.

Since being set up, Storybook Dads has won a huge number of awards, including "Charity of the Year 2007".

Click here to see the Storybook Dads website.

The Aims of the Storybook Alliance :

Storybook Soldiers and Storybook Dads have formed the "Storybook Alliance" to provide a platform for the cohesive development and expansion of the Storybook initiative into the Armed Forces.

The Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force are keen to set up similar schemes.

Contacts for the RAF : Storybook Wings

Storybook Wings Coordinator
Force Development Squadron
RAF Wittering
Peterborough
PE8 6HB
Tel: 01780 - 783838 ext 7538
Email: storybookwings@rafa.org.uk

Contacts for the Royal Navy : Storybook Waves

Lt Cdr Kath Hutton RN
NETS(E) Learning Centre (Nelson)
Rodney Block
Nelson Personnel Centre
HMNB Portsmouth
PO1 3HH
Tel: 023 9272 4288
Email: katharine.hutton476@mod.uk

Updated : 9 April 2010

" I can't believe we've got this for free !"

"Thank you for my son's story disk. It is beautifully done and he loves it ! It really is a wonderful idea and I am sure it must take you ages to do. Many, many thanks."

A soldier who recorded a story, with his wife and daughter

A soldier and his daughter choose a story to record at the launch of our Recording Centre in Colchester

" Storybooks have been a real hit. I think you'll see me back during R&R to do another one !"

" My children loved the CD. It was much appreciated and we are going out to buy the book now ! Thanks again."

Recording the 100th story in Afghanistan

A soldier records a story at the launch of our Recording Centre in Colchester

" Many thanks for the excellent CD for my daughter. She says that she misses me lots but that it helps."

" Absolutely brilliant. What a nice surprise and my daughter loved it !"

CGS, General Sir Richard Dannatt, Patron of the Storybook Soldiers scheme, visits the Management Team in Tidworth

"My 6 year old son told his daddy who called from Afghanistan tonight that if he shuts his eyes while listening to the CD he thinks he is back in the room with him ..."

"I would just like to say thank you for your Service. I think the CD is wonderful. It has kept my daughter entertained ... and it has put a smile on my face to hear my husband's voice. Thank you ! "

CGS, General Sir Richard Dannatt, Patron of the Storybook Soldiers scheme, pictured with the Management Team and some of the scheme's volunteer editors

What other people have written about us :

" All those that haven't done this for their kids don't realise what they are missing. It is just brilliant !"

BBC Online (28 Aug 07) :
"In a Land Far Away" by Claire Bates

" You have made my kids' day !"

Defence News (30 Aug 07)
"Kids benefit from Storybook Soldiers Scheme"

"My son was thrilled to hear his favourite book read by his Daddy and filled with sound effects. His face was an absolute picture when I played it for him and it's been repeated several times. "

BBC Radio 4 (25 Aug 08)
"Once upon a time on the Front Line"

" Thank you very much for taking the time to make my children so happy. "

Wiltshire Life (Dec 2008)
"Wiltshire's Storybook Soldiers"

" The CD is fabulous. My children adore it. My youngest keeps pointing at the CD player and asking for Daddy ! "

BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play (13 May 09)
"In a Land Far Away", by Andy Macdonald

" All the background sounds and music etc are just fantastic."

Northampton Chronicle & Echo (29 Dec 09)
"Bedtime Stories from War Zone"
A deployed Mother talks to her local paper about why she wanted to record a story.

" Thank you so much for the disk. It is fabulous. My daughter is 18 months and loves it. She says, "my Daddy, my Daddy-more!!" and dances to the music. It is fabulous and we are very pleased with it. "

The Sun Newspaper (10 March 2010)
"Our Mum's the best in the world - she's a soldier in Afghanistan"
The Sun Newspaper launches its campaign to find the country's best Mum with an article about a soldier-mum who recorded a story for her children to listen to while she was in Afghanistan.

" It's wonderful - a very professional production and something very special to keep. Please pass on my thanks to your wonderful editors for giving up their time and helping Service children make those miles not seem so very far. "

Recording a story at the launch of our Recording Centre in Colchester

Storybook Soldier Bear :

This charming, specially commissioned, hand made and hand painted 7cm resin model is available for purchase online. He has been produced by a commercial company for which Storybook Soldiers has no responsibility. Storybook Soldiers receives no proceeds from the sale of the bears, but if you buy one via Ebay, then 10% of the purchase price will be sent to "Help for Heroes".

Storybook Soldiers acknowledges the support of :
DETS(A)
Army Library Service
HIVE
Services Sound & Vision Corporation
British Forces Broadcasting Service
Garrison Radio
ABF The Soldiers' Charity
Annington Homes
Aspire Defence Services Ltd