Free Story Time Online

While schools, libraries and bookstores are closed, publishing companies such as Penguin Random House, #HarryPotterAtHome, Harper Collins are stepping up and giving permission to have their books read-aloud online. Don’t be surprised if you see your favorite actor, astronaut, local librarian, teacher and school principal getting into the story time action.

Here are some of my favorite websites and author readings:

Mondays with Michelle Obama

A four-week series of videos that will feature Mrs. Obama reading aloud from beloved children’s books (one book every Monday through May 11).  “Mondays with Michelle Obama” (#PBSKIDSRead, #ReadTogetherBeTogether) will be livestreamed simultaneously on PBS KIDS’ Facebook page and YouTube channel, and on Penguin Random House’s Facebook page, and will remain available for viewing on demand on all of those platforms immediately thereafter. 

Marin Humane

Humane Story Time will be at 3 pm each Wednesday on Facebook Live. Our Humane Education coordinator, Julia Cole, will be reading a different book to an animal audience each week (usually her dogs), first in English and then in Spanish.

Story Time From Space

We send children’s books to the International Space Station. Astronauts videotape themselves reading these books to the children of Earth.

Storytime with Ryan & Craig

A free, short-form reading show for children, parents & educators. Every week, Ryan and Craig read aloud a new children’s book.

The Spanish Experiment

Well-known children's stories translated into Spanish and spoken by a native Spanish speaker. Great for kids... and adults too! Read along in Spanish or English.

Storyline Online

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations.

KidLit TV

Go on an adventure in a world of stories with KidLit TV, a place to discover great children’s books and connect with the people who create them.

Harper Kids Books

Subscribe to HarperKids for a glimpse inside pages of your child's next read by way of book trailers, author interviews, and original content.

Little, Brown Young Readers

Watch exclusive author interviews, behind-the-scenes videos and trailers for the hottest new releases and bestselling books for teens and young readers from Little, Brown.

Brightly Storytime

Making it a little easier, and a lot more fun, for parents and educators to raise children who love to read.

#SAVEWITHSTORIES

As COVID-19 hits the U.S., millions of kids need our help to learn & eat. Join us, along with @savethechildren and @nokidhungry, to #SAVEWITHSTORIES.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Featuring Dolly Parton reading a series of Imagination Library books all carefully chosen for their appropriate content at this moment in time.

Drag Queen Story Hour

Gather the kiddos around and join in the fun on Saturday with Nina West.

Authors reading their books:

• Nate Ball, reading and STEM projects via Facebook

• Mac Barnett, reads a different book every day, 3 PM ET via Instagram Live

• Cece Bell, El Deafo

• Sophie Blackall, Ivy & Bean

• Jan Brett, Cozy

• Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

• Eva Chen, Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes

• Doreen Cronin via Facebook Page

• James Dean, Pete the Cat free with Amazon Prime

• Ame Dyckman, You Don’t Want A Unicorn!

• Josh Gad, OK - not an author but he is aka Olaf the Snowman, via Twitter at 7:30 PM EST

• Dan Gutman, My Weird School via Facebook Live

• Shawn Harris, Everyone’s Awake

• Molly Idle, Pearl

• Susie Jaramillo, Little Sunny Sunshine

• Oliver Jeffers via Instagram

• Victoria Kann, “ Pinkalicious” via Facebook and Instagram

• Grace Lin reading and drawing via YouTube

• Jeff Norton, Alienated

• #OperationStoryTime on YouTube

• Jerry Pallotta, on YouTube

• Anica Mrose Rissi, Love, Sophia on the Moon

• Laura Numeroff, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

• Peter H. Reynolds daily via Facebook at 12pm EST

• Seymour Simon via YouTube

• David Walliams, The Terrible Triplets

• Steven Weinberg, AstroNuts

• Mo Willems,  #MoLunchDoodles

• Karen Romano Young, A Girl, a Raccoon, and the Midnight Moon

If you know other great online story time for children, please add to the comments below. I will add more links as I find them, so check back often!