Ford Helps Young Readers Dream of Driving with New Book Series

Of all the little moments that can make raising children rewarding, reading bedtime stories is one of those treasured times that are so fleeting. I recall reading stories to my niece, and though at the time she thought that anything I read to her was "ick," those shared memories are something I still cherish. While my chance to read gearhead bedtime stories to a little one is over, if yours is just getting started, Ford is debuting a handful of car-centric children's books that might be worth picking up.

The books come by way of a partnership between Penguin Young Readers and Ford. The Good Night Truck is the first book in a series targeting young readers aged 4-8 and will be released in both English and Spanish on August 27th, 2024. The story revolves around a late-night drive that coaxes a toddler to sleep, so any parent will tell you these books belong in the non-fiction section. The feature vehicle of The Good Night Truck is an F-150, while other books will feature other pillars of Ford's lineup like Bronco and Mustang.

Ford's foray into selling books might seem like some very long-lead advertising , and may well be, but the partnership to Ford branding on all kinds of products is actually a strong revenue stream for Ford and other automakers. Brand recognition might be nothing more than a beneficial side effect.

Regardless of what drives Ford to creating these books, the seven upcoming titles include a variety of subjects sure to be up kids' alleys, even if they aren't that into cars: Ford: Road Trip!, Ford: Colors, Ford: Numbers, Ford: Shapes, Ford Mad Libs, and Ford: Letters. These are the planned releases through spring of 2025, and according to Publisher's Weekly there are more books to come including a First 100 Words book along with some for a slightly older audience, including a search-and-find title, a sticker activity book, and nonfiction readers. This will likely mean readers of a certain age will grow up with this series. Will it guarantee they want an F-150 or a Mustang for their first car? Maybe not, but if it gets and keeps kids reading, then an appreciation for cars is a great side effect.