A SHARED reading initiative for armed forces families is due to bring its national roadshow to children in North Yorkshire.

Reading Force will be visiting schools in North Yorkshire this month which have a majority of service children.

At Carnagill Community Primary School in Catterick Garrison on Monday (May 11), RAF Leeming Primary School on Wednesday (May 13) and Hipswell CE Primary School on Thursday (May 14).

Award-winning children’s author Tom Palmer and Jim Sells from the National Literacy Trust will be entertaining and involving children in a fun-filled event including a penalty shoot-out.

This will be followed by an after school action-packed fete for service children and their families. Every child will be given a signed Tom Palmer book and a Reading Force scrapbook.

Families who take part in Reading Force are encouraged to read the same book, talk about it, and complete a scrapbook with thoughts about the book. Whether families are together at home or separated by deployments and training, taking part in Reading Force is designed to help improve communication, keep family members close, and help mitigate the stresses of service family life.

Tom Palmer came up with the idea for the Reading Force Roadshow. He said: “Service men and women – and their children – make great sacrifices for me and my family.

“I feel it is my duty to do something that might help them. I read with my daughter several times a week.

“We talk about what we read. It is a major part of our relationship. If I can help other families do this – in person and via the internet – it is the least I can do.”