FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The hottest new thing to get kids to start reading is not new at all: It’s snail mail
A Fredericksburg, Virginia mom’s company is embracing traditional mail – dismissively called “snail mail” by techies who love their instant email – as a way to encourage kids to learn to love reading, and she has a mascot to help.
Wendy Lattimore first found that letters could be a teaching tool years ago while she was homeschooling her kids. Her youngest child wasn’t interested in books and was a struggling reader. Determined to show him the joy of reading, she invented "Sunny the Mail Snail," and sent him a weekly letter from Sunny.
The weekly letters became a big hit as he excitedly awaited the arrival of a new one each week.
“Kids love mail. Who doesn’t?” she said.
Lattimore used the messages to teach him about a wide range of subjects, and, without realizing it, he learned to love reading, too.
She realized that her idea could help other kids, and now she’s working to get Sunny on retail shelves nationwide. Her company, Snail Mail for Kids, is launching its new product at the National Stationery Show this year.
Sunny the Mail Snail is now an adorable stuffed animal complete with mail hat and mailbag full of letters. But he’s not just a plush toy – Sunny actually sends kids a letter every week via snail mail.
The “Sunny Adventure Box” includes a Sunny plushie and wall poster and the box is a special place for budding readers to store their weekly letters. After Mom or Dad purchases the Sunny Adventure Box, and a letter subscription, the letters from Sunny start arriving every week.
Sunny travels across the globe, sending mail back to kids to tell them about his adventures delivering mail to animals. Without even knowing it, they start learning about animals and geography. They’re using early learning skills like reading while simultaneously developing a love of animals and travel.
Each letter also arrives with stickers, secret codes, pictures, trading cards, souvenirs, and more.
Every letter from Sunny is designed to engage children’s curiosity and is ideal for youngsters ages 4 to 8. If it’s true that everything old is new again, then look out email – Sunny’s on a mission.
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Editors: For more information, contact WENDY LATTIMORE at SNAILMAILFORKIDS@GMAIL.COM or (703) 835-2780
Company website: snailmailforkids.com