Early Learning

Free Video Read Aloud Channels

A mother and child sit together holding and interacting with a tablet.

01/02/25 Storytime Online

There are several organizations and publishers that regularly share stories on free video read aloud channels. Readers range from celebrities to astronauts to the authors themselves. These channels are a great way to enjoy online storytime if you are unable to join us at the Library. These are tories for families on the go! Listen along to old classics like Where the Wild Things Are or newer favorites like Jabari Jumps. If you have a few minutes you have time for a story! Browse IndyPl’s collection of online storytime.

Barbershop Books

To ensure young children have academically enriching, culturally responsive, and fun reading experiences, Barbershop Books leads weekly online storytime on Facebook and YoutTube.

Brightly Storytime

Listen along as Ms. Linda reads some of your favorite illustrated children’s stories, including The Snowy Day, The Princess and the Pea, and Uni the Unicorn on Brightly Storytime. Bite-sized listening anytime you and your little one have a few minutes to spare for a great story. In addition to the Youtube channel you can watch Brightly stories on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor

Storytime from Space

Two libraries of free, family-friendly science videos are Storytime from Space and Science Time from Space. Watch astronauts on the Space Station read books and perform science demonstrations!

An astronaut on the International Space Station sits in front of windows that show outer space while holding the book The Wizard Who Saved the World.

KidLit TV

Great Books Read Aloud on Kid Lit TV! Enjoy story time with authors at KLTV HQ! KidLit TV is a winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Award, the Norton Juster Award for Devotion to Literacy, and one of the American Library Association’s Great Websites For Kids. Also available on Youtube.

Head shot of the reader and the cover of the book Maria Had a Little Llama.

Storytime Online

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring actors reading children’s books. Readers include Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Betty White and dozens more. Each story comes with a printable activity guide.

Lily Tomlin holds a book for reading aloud and smiles at the camera.

American Sign Language (ASL) Storytelling

American Sign Language (ASL) Storytelling 20+ signed video read alouds from the Educational Resource Center on Deafness. Stories include the classic favorites: The Snowy Day, Heckedy Peg, Is Your Mama a Llama, The Little Red Hen and more.

The cover of the book Knuffle Bunny and storyteller speaking American Sign Language (ASL).

Brightly Storytime Flip-Alongs

Watch the pages turn as the story is read aloud on Brightly Storytime Flip-Alongs. Stories include I’m a Truck, My First Counting Book, The Color Kittens, Colors Are Nice, and Madeline. A new story is released every week!

Two hands hold down an open book that shows lines of words and illustrations of trucks with eyes.

Unite for Literacy

Unite for Literacy is a collection of e-books that celebrate the languages and cultures and cultivate a life-long love of reading. These picture books include audio narration options in more than languages. The books are available on any device – computer, tablet or smartphone.