Free Online Storybooks for Kids Read by Famous Actors

Looking for free online stories to enjoy with your kids? Storyline Online features actors reading children's books, with illustrations accompanying the storytelling. Families can choose from more than 100 videos, making it an easy place to find a story for a quiet afternoon or bedtime.

The program comes from the nonprofit SAG-AFTRA Foundation, and its readers include familiar names such as Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Garner, and Meryl Streep. You can watch the stories for free.

What You Get for Free

Storyline Online offers complete video readings of featured children's books. Each book also includes educational material developed by an elementary educator, giving parents and teachers a way to continue the conversation after the video ends.

That makes it a useful resource for families looking for an activity to pair with reading, including homeschool lessons. You might watch a story together, talk about a character's choices, and then invite your child to draw a favorite scene.

Two Stories to Try First

Harry the Dirty Dog, written by Gene Zion and illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, is read by Betty White. This five-minute video follows a dog who would rather avoid bath time. The suggested grade range is kindergarten through second grade.

A Bad Case of Stripes, written and illustrated by David Shannon, is read by Sean Astin. The 12-minute story follows Camilla Cream, who worries about what other children think of her. The suggested grade range is second through third grade.

Those suggestions can help you choose a starting point, but let your child's interests guide your next selection.

How to Get Started

Visit StorylineOnline.net.

Browse All Books or search for a title or reader.

Open a book's page and play the video.

Look for the accompanying guide if you want an additional activity.

For a simple follow-up, ask your child to retell the story in their own words or imagine a different ending. A few minutes of conversation can turn a video into something you share together.

What Parents Should Know

Storyline Online describes its service as free and ad-free, with donations helping fund the program. There is no paid subscription required to watch. Internet access is needed because the videos cannot be downloaded for offline viewing.

If the YouTube player gives you trouble, look for the Classroom Player option on the book's page. It provides another way to watch through the website.

Choose your first free story at Storyline Online and let your child pick the next one.