I love reading aloud
Although the origins of this are vague, one of the few things I actually enjoyed in school was when it was my turn to read a section of our text books aloud. I was a proficient reader, having two older sisters who played "school" with me well before I ever set foot in one, so reading was engrained at an early age!
When I was a teacher, reading aloud to students was always something they enjoyed as much as I did. And of course I passed this ritual on to my children, and now my grandchildren.
Between all this, when my mother lived in a skilled nursing home, I would visit often. On one of these visits, I had a story book that a friend had just gifted me, knowing my love of picture books. It was a delightful story by Nancy Tillman, On the Night You were Born, and I decided to bring it inside to read to my mom. When I arrived, she was sleeping, and not wanting to disturb her, I walked the halls and came upon a group of about a dozen residents, sitting in a row just watching the activity roll by. I joined them, and at one point asked if they'd like to hear the story I had brought to read to my mother. The resounding "yesses" delighted me, so I got right to it.
What was so striking to me was the full engagement I was getting. Even from some folks who typically didn't show much interest in conversing. This was an absolute thrill and encouraged me to come back the next day with a batch of books from the local library.
Upon sharing this snippet in time with my daughter, a writer, she thought it could be construed as a little condescending, reading kid's books to elders. I asked her what she thought might better fulfill this niche of readers/listeners, and she created the story Lavender Ladies, our premium offering that has become known as "Goodnight Moon" for elders.
It's a beautiful story that weaves the phases of life together using colors as a metephorical reference to the time of life. For instance, Pastel Parents underscores the gentleness of being with children, along with the broader, more sublty hued focus on life with the varying levels of attention one embodies when raising a family. Running in several directions, the colors can sometimes fade and blend into one another.
Since then, our books have brought connection and comfort to the later developmental stages of life, that we, if our destiny takes us there, will all face one day. The books can certainly be read alone, in groups, or one on one to have the ability to dive deeply into bonding with another through books.