Reader Contest: Hallmark Recordable Storybooks

Back in 2008, I had the privilege of going to Kansas City for a board meeting for a professional non-profit association. One of the things I wanted to see more than anything else was the Hallmark museum. It was pretty awesome. So, when the Hallmark folks contacted me about doing a giveaway for military families, I thought Thanksgiving/Christmas seemed like the perfect time to do it.

Here's the giveaway item: Hallmark’s Recordable Storybooks. These super-cool books feature voice-capture technology that records the reader’s voice, which is then captured within the storybook. When a page is turned, the book automatically plays the text on that page in the reader’s voice. It’s a great way to capture a special moment that can be shared with a child over and over again. And since the recording lasts for the life of the book, it can also serve as a lasting memento of a loved one who is away because of duty or other circumstances.

Following the introduction of recordable storybooks last holiday season, Hallmark received numerous letters from servicemen, servicewomen and their families sharing how they were able to share special moments with their distant loved ones through the recordable storybook. This video contains one of these stories from a military family located in North Carolina (their story starts around the 2:00 mark).

Touched by the heartfelt stories of those who sacrifice so much for our country, Hallmark is partnering with the VFW Foundation to donate 20,000 recordable storybooks to deployed soldiers and their families to help them keep in touch during the holiday season and beyond.

In addition to this donation, Hallmark asked me to give away two recordable storybooks to readers who may have loved ones serving overseas and would like to hear their voice in a recordable storybook (during the holidays or anytime!)

So, here is my contest:

*Tell me about the serviceman/servicewoman in your life and the child for whom he/she would record the story. Every member of the military has a history that is unique to him/her - what is it for the person you're nominating? It can even be YOU!

Email your 500 words (or less) entry to me at armyofmomblogger@yahoo.com. Subject should be: Hallmark giveaway entry.
Deadline: Nov. 12. extended to Nov. 19. (I'm too swamped to read entries right now, so we're extending a week.) Keep 'em coming.

I'll pick the winners that weekend and post their winning entries (minus names) the following week. I'll contact winners via the email they provided and Hallmark will ship the book directly to your serviceman/woman.