Virtual Storytime Children — *Source: Pexels*

Storytime is a big part of every childhood and reading aloud regularly to babies and young children is one of the most effective ways to foster early literacy. It is a crucial factor responsible for building language and social skills as well as pronunciation and vocabulary. Introduce your children to classic children’s’ books and read along with storytellers like Michelle Obama and Julie Andrews.

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Virtual Storytime and Read-Alongs for Children

New York Public Library Virtual Storytime

No matter the circumstances, New York Public Library brings the joy of reading to the readers. Children’s librarians will read books, sing songs, and share early literacy tips with your children. Don’t miss the special storytime of Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience & Fortitude, a picture book by Josh Funk and read by him, or Buenas Noches Luna (Good Night Moon) by Margaret Wise Brown, and a muppet show for bilingual children. And check out the At Home Storytime guides that allow you to conduct your own storytime from home!

Julie’s Library: Storytime With Julie Andrews

Julie Andrews’ new podcast “Julie’s Library” will give a new unique voice to the best children’s classics. This weekly audio series created by Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton will share their library and read their favorite children’s books. Every tale will come to life with music and special guests who will surprise the listeners every week.

Monday Storytime with Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama remembers her favorite chidren’s book from the time her dauthers were little. The former First Lady will read four of the most beloved picture books, including The Gruffalo, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, There’s a Dragon in Your Book, and Miss Maple’s Seeds. You can watch the videos on the PBS Kids Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

Harry Potter at Home

Seventeen weeks of Harry Potter read by Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Fry, David Beckham, Dakota Fanning and others. Many inspiring contributors will help your children read through the first Harry Potter book, as they will get introduced to the Dursleys and to the magical world of Hogwarts. You can subscribe to Harry Potter at Home and get all the latest updates on further video readings too.

Read Together, Be Together

This is a federal campaign promoted by Penguin Random House and Parents magazine that celebrates the value and power of a shared reading experience between a parent and child. Every day, celebrities like Jennifer Garner and Alan Cumming read a book on their Instagram or Facebook page at 3 pm. All recordings will be available on the Read Togheter, Be Together website afterward.

HarperKids from Home

Harper Publishers know that literature, art, music and other creative activities help create conversation, get children’s imaginations running wild and bring families together. During the COVID-19 crisis, while children and parents are at home and practicing social distancing, HarperKids are inviting you to come together in a safe way, every day. Join the HarperKids team each day at 12 pm for storytimes and read-alouds, fun content, and entertainment. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube Kids.

Dav Pilkey at Home

Hello, Supa Buddies! Find Dav Pilkey at Home on Scholastic and the Library of Congress featuring read-alouds, drawing lessons and other fun activities. Get creative and have fun with some of your favorite characters including Dog Man and Captain Underpants! Every Friday you will discover new activities, exciting videos, and stories!

Williamsburg Northside School

<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">At Northside, our graduates will be comfortable being uncomfortable, for they&rsquo;ll recognize that resistance and friction are signals of growth, and they&rsquo;ll consistently seek out opportunities to expand the definition of who they are. They will be future-ready, able to thrive in challenging situations because they have the confidence and the wherewithal to embrace an ever-accelerating pace of change and adapt accordingly. They will be well on their way to becoming life-long learners that know what happens inside the classroom is a catalyst for the never-ending exploration of what lies beyond the school-house walls. And, most importantly, they&rsquo;ll be good, decent, and caring human beings that aren&rsquo;t afraid to show some emotion, that are quick to offer a helping hand, and that recognize that encountering differing opinions and perspectives only makes them stronger.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div>

German School Manhattan International Pre- & Lower School

GSM uses small classes to make a big impact. Expertly trained educators teach in their native language, while the intimate group settings allow for dedicated student-teacher interaction. The English curriculum that is offered starting in Kindergarten, exposes students to the modern standards of ELA (English Language Arts), complementing the German Curriculum that stems from a long tradition of educational pedagogy. A new location was added this year to offer full German immersion Preschool for learners ages 3 and 4. Music and dance are an integral part of the ambitiously blended curriculum that adheres to internationally benchmarked standards. Knowledge of German is not a prerequisite to apply. Sign up for open house and apply:&nbsp;<a style="color: #1155cc;" href="http://germanschoolmanhattan.org/apply" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://germanschoolmanhattan.org/apply&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637084909991000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1QKL2dJfmFISIMablkr29Z">germanschoolmanhattan.org/apply</a>

Twin Parks Montessori Schools

TwIn Parks Montessori Schools nurtures a child&rsquo;s natural tendency to learn.&nbsp; Our three campuses on the Upper West Side of Manhattan serve children from 3 months to 5 years of age.&nbsp; We are called Twin Parks because each of our campuses are across from Central Park or Riverside Park.&nbsp; Being close to nature is just one of many things that make Twin Parks a wonderful school.&nbsp; Twin Parks is well known for its warm stimulating environment, joyful, active, independent learners, and welcoming community.&nbsp; At Twin Parks, each child is regarded with profound respect and care. Our nurturing teachers foster a beautiful learning environment designed to help each child reach their full potential.&nbsp;&nbsp; All of our students, even our youngest children, have enriched experiences in math, language, science, cultural arts, music, art and movement.&nbsp; The Montessori approach is internationally renowned for the development of each child&rsquo;s creativity, individual resourcefulness, and potential. All of our classrooms share a deep commitment to the Montessori Method and at each level our program is carefully constructed around the developmental stages of the child. The Montessori curriculum varies at the levels of our school, but the goals are consistent throughout the programs: - To partner with parents in the education of their children - To foster a love and joy of learning - To help children develop a positive self-image&nbsp; - To foster open minds, compassion, and respect for others - To develop independence and confidence. - To instill in each child a sense of responsibility for the world in which we live - To maintain the highest standards for a safe and clean program.