22 Sep Award Winning Collection of Online Picture Books!
We have featured library resources with picture book collections such as Tumblebooks and Hoopla in the past. But did you know that there’s a collection of read-aloud picture books that’s completely free for anyone, with or without a library card?
Storyline Online is a collection of excellent picture books read by celebrity actors. It includes quite a few books to choose from, and features well-known readers such as Rita Moreno, Wanda Sykes, Oprah Winfrey, Rashida Jones, and Kristen Bell. In addition to seeing the reader in a cozy setting, each video includes music and animated illustrations from the book. Each book has a substantial and cross-curricular Activity Guide if you’d like ideas on ways to do more with the story after watching.
Storyline Online is sponsored by the Screen Actor’s Guild-AFTRA Foundation and has won numerous awards.
Example Books and Videos
One story in the collection is Trombone Shorty read by Angela Bassett. Contemporary jazz musician Trombone Shorty wrote this 2015 book himself. In it, he tells how he got his nickname as a boy in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans. His own wonderful music plays in the background of the video as well. If you would like to read along with the videos at home, you can put this title on hold through the PGTPL catalog!
Finally, Oprah Winfrey reads The Hula Hoopin’ Queen by Thelma Lynne Godin. In it, Kameeka is desperate to get outside and show Jamara she is the Hula-Hoopin’ Queen of 139th Street. But it’s her neighbor’s birthday and she has to stay and help get ready. When the party finally happens, it turns out Kameeka and Jamara aren’t the only ones who feel the hula hoopin’ itch! If you would like to read along with the videos at home, you can put this title on hold through the PGTPL catalog!
