Storytime Online Resources

This is an evolving list of online storytime resources for families, preschools, and day cares. It includes videos, websites, and podcasts to support those who cannot make it to the library for any reason. The focus is on early literacy support online – songs, rhymes, movement, and stories. You can also follow the hashtag #kidlitquatantine on Twitter for updates on emerging resources specifically around children’s literature.

Please leave a comment with a recommended resource!

Livestreaming Storytimes

The following libraries are livestreaming storytimes while they are closed. They can be viewed by anyone. You can also check out this Google Calendar for online KidLit events hosted by authors and illustrators.

Songs, Rhymes, and Movement

Check out songs, rhymes, and fingerplays in many languages to sing with little ones.

Jbrary

I’ve created a list of all of our YouTube playlists so you can easily scan and find songs that work for you.

1, 2, 3 On Chante!

This French language educational resource is created by the Ottawa Public Library. The channel features our children staff’s favourite nursery rhymes, lullabies, and fingerplays. New videos are published every second Friday.

StoryBlocks

“Storyblocks is a collection of 30-60 second videos designed to model to parents, caregivers, and library staff some songs, rhymes, and fingerplays appropriate for early childhood.” Includes 9 languages.

Flannel Board Fun

Wendy has a YouTube station filled with flannel and felt songs and rhymes.

Emily Arrow Singalong

Emily Arrow writes original songs based on children’s books. Next week on Monday – Friday she will be hosting a special story and song each day at 1:00 pm EST/10:00 am PST.

Tell Me a Story by KCLS

The King County Library System has a HUGE collection of songs and rhymes to sing with little ones.

Miss Nina – Children’s Sing & Move Along Songs

Miss Nina has a mix of original songs, old classics, and popular children’s books read aloud and paired with music.

Cosmic Kids Yoga

To help with panic and anxiety try this YouTube channel which is “yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specially for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world. “

Books and Audiobooks

Please check this Let’s Keep Reading Google doc for an evolving list of authors and illustrators that are holding livestream events and webcasts over the course of the next month. There is also an excellent crowd-sourced list of ASL eBooks and resources.

Check Your Local Library

Many public libraries provide access to eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, and databases with animated books (i.e. TumbleBooks). You will most likely need a library card to access these options.

Brightly Storytime

From Read Brightly, this YouTube channel features a new weekly full-length picture book read out loud by storyteller Ms. Linda.

Storyline Online

Storyline Online is an award-winning, interactive children’s literacy site that features famous actors like Kevin Costner, Betty White, James Earl Jones, Eva Longoria, and others reading children’s books alongside minor animation elements. 

Story Time From Space

Astronauts from the International Space Station read children’s books in outer space for children on earth to listen to. They have science videos that compliment the books.

International Children’s Digital Library

ICDL is a nonprofit organization that provides access to the best children’s books of their culture, and cultures around the world regardless of where they live. There are over 4,000 titles in 59 languages to choose from, that you can read to your children. 

Dial-a-Story by Toronto Public Library

Available in 16 languages, there are stories for kids ages 0 – 12. “Kids and their families can listen to a story by phone any time of day for FREE by calling the library’s Dial-A-Story service at 416-395-5400. ” If you don’t want to call long distance they also have a collection of free stories read aloud called Hear-a-Story.

Phone-a-Story by Denver Public Library

Call 720-865-8500 and listen to stories, songs and rhymes in English, Spanish, Amharic and Vietnamese.

Podcasts

Storytime Seedlings

Provided by the Santa Clara County Library District, this podcast features “books, fingerplays, rhymes, stories and songs for a screen-free storytime experience, anytime.”

Sesame Street Podcast

“Featuring the furry and loveable Muppets of Sesame Street. Sing songs with Elmo, Abby, Cookie Monster and Grover. Learn about friendship, patience and sharing with Bert and Ernie.”

Circle Round

“Created and produced by parents of young children, WBUR’s Circle Round is a podcast that adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 4 to 10.”

Story Pirates

“Story Pirates is a group of world-class actors, comedians, improvisers and musicians who adapt stories written by kids into sketch comedy and musical theater.” Great for older kids too.

79 thoughts on “Storytime Online Resources

  1. The Appalachian Regional Library just completed a YouTube playlist with one (15 minute) “story time” for each letter of the alphabet. Instead of reading stories in the videos, we link to read aloud stories done by Brightly and Storyline Online. This give us more time in each video for fun activities. ADDITIONALLY, we link to a wealth of extension activities like alphabet letter crafts, experiments for the focus letter, songs, and informational videos in the video description to give care givers more ideas regarding the fun they can have! It is our way of supporting the early reading skill of alphabet recognition for our youngest patrons! Here is a link to that playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVvXVLZDkJ2T-E5QOFhg6UvembBKwMYv8

    And this is a short (10 min) presentation we did explaining why we chose to create “storyless” storytimes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le9P3LbO670

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