Send the 1st LGBTQ plus Picture Book into...SPACE!

Hey there,

Can you help me do something amazing and make LGBTQ+ history?

 

My name is Gareth Peter and I'm a children's author and same-sex adoptive dad. I love telling stories and the one I'm most proud of is the story of how I became a father. Best thing ever!

 

I grew up in the 80's/90's in the UK, never knowing any gay people and disliking the fact that I was different. And my biggest heartache, was the thought that I would never start a family of my own.

 

But since 2002, UK same-sex couples have been able to adopt... and so my dream eventually came true. Quite literally. And this is why I wrote the book, Forever Star.

 

It's about two space men, who set off on an intergalactic adoption journey to find their forever family. It's a book about love, space, adoption and family... and I am so proud it is out in the universe. The words are by me and the stunning images by Judi Abbot. It's published in the UK by Puffin.

 

BUT... we need your help to... SEND THIS BOOK INTO SPACE!

 

WHY: To celebrate adoption and all the amazing rainbow families in the world, we want to send this book up into the stars, during National Adoption week, this October. We believe it will be the FIRST LGBTQ+ picture book to be in space, helping to highlight that ALL families are amazing and wonderful and... full of love!

HOW: How will this be done?   We have enlisted the help of the amazing UK-based team at Sent Into Space, that will send our book on a solo mission, up into the atmosphere and back down again.  There will be a camera filming the whole launch and journey, and then beam back down amazing images from above the Earth.  The BEST intergalactic selfie...ever. These will be shared on social media. 


WHEN: Now. To make sure we launch during National Adoption Week we have set the target of about two weeks. So this gofundme page will be open from Monday 27th September 2021 - until - Wednesday 13th October 2021. 

As one space dad says in the book:

 

"Children want safety they need to feel love

In a home that fits snugly like wearing a glove.

It just shouldn’t matter how parents are paired,

as long as that love is eternally shared."

 

And once they have found their amazing child, they tuck him in for the first time and say…

 

“We travelled through space beyond Neptune and Mars

And we’d do it again… for a family like ours.”

 

 

Forever Star is a joyful, read-aloud and fun space adventure, for the whole family. It's is a comforting, soothing read that's ideal just before bedtime and a helpful jumping off point for early conversations about the experiences of LGBTQ+ families for the youngest readers.

 

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE LGBTQ+ HISTORY... AND SEND IT INTO THE STARS.

Any donations are welcome and we'll send you all rainbow love in return... but those donations over £50 will received a copy of the book signed by me and Judi. Donations over £80 will receive two. Over £200 will receive a  personal  message from me and a signed book.  Star-filled donations of  £500 will  receive a LIVE visit, for the UK school of your choice. And galactic donations of  £1000 will receive a UK school event, AND  a dedication in one of my next picture books. 

Thanks for reading and supporting us. You are ALL stars!

 

Big smiles,

 

Gareth x

PS - Any funds left over will be shared between Adoption, LGBTQ+ and Literacy charities within the UK.