As your family continues to find creative ways to pass the time, this YouTube channel could be your next fun activity: Storyline Online is a gold mine when it comes to keeping kids entertained. Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Kristen Bell, and Chris Pine face the camera to read favorite children’s books to thousands of kids. The virtual story time is gaining traction as a fun way to engage kids with books and reading.
Available 24 hours a day, Storyline Online was started to help inspire a love of reading in children. While it’s been around for a few years, parents have recently rediscovered this creative way to connect with kids. Each video features a different celebrity, and they’re all reading a different popular children’s book.
You can sort through the videos to find your child’s favorite celebrities along with books that your child will be interested in. There are books appropriate for all ages and on several different topics. Additionally, many of the featured books are by award-winning authors.
The videos also feature moving illustrations to keep kids even more engaged in their virtual story time. The entire concept was developed by literacy specialists to help children improve on their reading comprehension skills. Better yet, it fosters a love of books starting at a young age.
If you scroll through the dozens of videos listed on the YouTube channel, you’ll find big-name celebrities and favorite books. There are classics like You Dirty Dog and also newer tales and picture books.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Oprah Winfrey reads The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen
Sarah Silverman reads A Tale of Two Beasts
Justin Theroux reads Here Comes the Garbage Barge!
Kristen Bell Reads Quackenstein Hatches a Family
Betty White reads Harry the Dirty Dog
Virtual story time is a great activity for when kids are stuck at home. It can add interest and engagement into a daily routine and also keep kids excited about books. You can start planning for your family’s virtual story time by browsing the full list of Storyline Online videos here.
Amanda Schmitt
