Read Aloud Book Videos for Kids on YouTube

Why Read Aloud? 

Reading aloud is one of the most important things caregivers and teachers can do with children. Research has repeatedly proved that this one simple parenting technique is among the most effective. Children who are read aloud to by caregivers get a head start in language development and literacy skills and go to school better prepared. Reading aloud builds many important foundational skills, introduces vocabulary, provides a model of fluent, expressive reading, and helps children recognize what reading for pleasure is all about. 

Although there is no substitute for reading in person to a child, there are still many benefits from using technology to show videos of people reading stories. In addition to many of the perks mentioned above, videos of books can offer a few novel benefits as well (pun intended).

Video books:

  • Often include music or sound effects to help set the mood.
  • Often include animations, zooming, and panning to bring the book to life and help follow or focus in on the action.
  • Can provide a different take on the reading of the story with the narrator’s voices and inflections.
  • Can be watched independently by the child.
  • Can be sped up or slowed down, paused, and rewound as needed


YouTube "Read Aloud" Book Videos for Kids

Here is a list of suggested YouTube channels and playlists that provide videos of books being read aloud for children.

St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office - SRD Reads To Me - Join your favorite School Resource Deputy and some special friends as they share an educational reading with you and your family.  YouTube Link

Storyline Online - This channel features celebrities reading storybooks along with animations created from the book illustrations. YouTube link

KidLit TV - This is a playlist with dozens of children’s book being read by the authors, provided by KidLit TV. YouTube link

PBS KIDS Read-Alongs -Along with story-time of a beloved book, each PBS KIDS Read-Along is designed to encourage engagement among families who tune in, with activity ideas and questions that spark conversation. YouTube Link

Kid Time Story Time - The narrator for these books uses puppets and lots of great voices when reading, and adds many comments and questions during the story to dig deeper. Sometimes the book is in English AND Spanish.  Playlist here | YouTube link

Sankofa Read Aloud - Online African American Children Stories  YouTube link

Puffin Books - Although the Puffin channel includes a wide range of book-related videos, they also have quite a few stories being read by authors or celebrities. YouTube link

Story Time for Children - Story Time for children comes from a collaboration of Toddler Fun Learning and Ladybird books, and offers a wide collection of children’s books with creative sound effects, zooming, and panning. YouTube link