Ripple Gives Families a New Way to Stay in Touch at Thanksgiving

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ripple, one of 2009’s hottest gift ideas, is keeping families in touch this Thanksgiving. This new online service, which officially launches on November 3, 2009, enables people to make private audio recordings of children’s pictures books for the special kids in their life.

“Each of my grandkids has unique interests and I’ve been able to choose something special for each child.”

Denver grandparent Tanya Moler says, “I have three grandkids in Montana, two in Oregon and two in California. It’s rarely feasible to gather everyone at Thanksgiving.” Moler, who signed up as a Ripple alpha tester, is already at work recording stories to share with her grandchildren on Thanksgiving Day. “The selection of books is wonderful,” she reports. “Each of my grandkids has unique interests and I’ve been able to choose something special for each child.”

Ripple is bringing relatives together in a whole new way. Aunts and uncles are sharing stories with their long-distance nieces and nephews. Soldiers and business travelers are reading to their kids back home. Kids who are missing mom, dad, grandparents and other family members at Thanksgiving can listen to these custom recordings again and again to feel the warmth and comfort of familiar voices.

Ripple is the brainchild of Jaye Kephart, a grandmother and Denver businesswoman who began her career as a speech-language pathologist and led the speech pathology team at Denver’s Head Start program in the 1970s. When she learned that her sister Susan had terminal cancer, Jaye brainstormed for ideas on how to create a legacy for Susan. Kephart made a box-kit of sorts, containing all the materials needed for making personal audio recordings of children’s stories, including helpful hints and reading instructions.

Technology has a come a long way since that 1990s experiment with audio cassettes. Ripple is an easy, cost-effective way to keep families in touch, while also promoting literacy. Kephart is launching the tool in memory of Susan. It is expected to bring joy and connection to many families this Thanksgiving.

Ripple’s mission is to promote children’s literacy, strengthen U.S. schools and foster connections between children and the important adults in their lives. For more information, visit www.RippleReader.com or call 888-339-0950, extension 708.

Note to editors: Images can be found at http://www.ripplereader.com/press.html.