Service members share recordings and books with their families to read together while apart
(San Diego, CA, and St. Paul, MN, July 28, 2026)—National nonprofit United Through Reading has expanded its offering of military life children’s books in its free app for military families, adding 17 titles published by Elva Resa Publishing, an independent publisher specializing in books about military family life.
The effort builds on a multiyear strategic collaboration between the organizations, with a shared mission to support the well‑being of military families through reading.
In the free, user-friendly UTR App, service members and veterans can record themselves reading the stories aloud and receive a free print book with every story they record, creating a library of both books and memories at home, as well as an in-app collection of storytime videos.
“We are so proud of our app and the way it allows military families to stay connected through the power of shared storytime, no matter the distance,” says UTR’s CEO, Carrie Valentine Fuller. “We’re excited to add these new titles, and I know families will love sharing these special stories with the military children in their lives.”
Including this year’s Book for the Military Child*, Elva Resa children’s titles featured in the UTR App include ebook editions of eight picture books in English, eight picture books in Spanish, and one bilingual board book:
Home Moves With Me* by Kathy Feedham Raggio, art by Quinette Cook
Mi hogar se muda conmigo* traducción de Gabriella Aldeman
Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmantraut, illustrated by Vicki Wehrman
¡Atrapa la estrella! traducción de Ana Stevenson
Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home by Kristin Ayyar
Contando los días hasta que llegue papá traducción de Gabriella Aldeman
Countdown ’til Mommy Comes Home by Kristin Ayyar
Contando los días hasta que llegue mamá traducción de Gabriella Aldeman
Fly with Mytai (Operation AviationTM) by Teri Weber, illustrated by Brenda Harris
Vuela con Maytai (Operación AviaciónTM) traducción de Gabriella Aldeman
Toad the Tanker (Operation AviationTM) by Teri Weber, illustrated by Brenda Harris
El Tanquecito (Operación AviaciónTM) traducción de Gabriella Aldeman
Moose on a Mission (Operation AviationTM) by Teri Weber, illustrated by Brenda Harris
La misión de Alce (Operación AviaciónTM) traducción de Gabriella Aldeman
Star’s Purpose: A Military Mission by Krista Betcher, illustrated by Brian Schmidt
El propósito de Estrella: Una misión militar traducción de Gabriella Aldeman
Duck & Rabbit ABC military adventure / Pato y Conejo ABC aventura militar by Jennifer Sipos and Jennifer Rose Freeland, traducción de Gabriella Aldeman
The books sent home from the UTR App are in addition to more than forty thousand Elva Resa print books being distributed to military families through military family events around the world supported by UTR.
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Formed in 1989, United Through Reading is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to strengthen military families’ literacy, emotional bonds, and well-being through the power of reading together at every age, no matter the distance. UTR’s vision is a nation of thriving military families whose strength is amplified by a shared love of reading. UnitedThroughReading.com
Founded in 1997, Elva Resa Publishing is an award-winning independent publisher specializing in quality resources about military family life. Driven by a mission to make a positive difference in people’s lives, Elva Resa centers military families in each step of the publishing process, from creation to distribution. Elva Resa owns and operates Military Family Books, a specialty distributor and preferred supplier to military, education, and healthcare organizations worldwide. ElvaResa.com, MilitaryFamilyBooks.com
Service members and veterans: Use the UTR App to record reading to your child and request a free print book. https://UTR.org/app
Organizations: These and additional books for your programs may be purchased directly, with case and bulk discounts from https://MilitaryFamilyBooks.com.
MEDIA: Please contact Elva Resa PR at 651-357-8770 or pr [@] elvaresa.com with questions or to schedule interviews with any of the authors or artists.
More about the collaboration between United Through Reading and Elva Resa Publishing:
https://elvaresa.com/united-through-reading-and-elva-resa-publishing-announce-multiyear-strategic-collaboration/
Read this press release as a pdf.