With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
Coronavirus Storytime: Here's Where To Find Celebrities Reading Children's Books Online
Former 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' co-stars Sir Patrick Stewart and LeVar Burton read to kids (and adults) on social media. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for STARZ)
()
The COVID-19 virus is wreaking havoc on schools, stores, businesses -- and events. As in-person concerts, talks and big gatherings are cancelled and people spend more time at home, LAist is temporarily switching our events column to a "nonevents" column to help us through this time of social distancing.
Until it's safe to go out again, please consider contributing to your local arts organizations, or to individual artists during this difficult time.
In mid-March, comedian and actor Josh Gad started reading children's books online (#GadBookClub) to give parents a brief respite from home schooling. We took a look around the web and found these other celebs sharing kid lit.
Support for LAist comes from
Goodnight with Dolly
Country legend Dolly Parton reads to children at bedtime every Thursday night at 4 p.m. PDT for 10 weeks. The books come from her Imagination Library, a program that mails free books to children from the time they're born until they start school. Snuggled in bed with her book, Parton shares stories including There's a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake by Loren Long, Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney and I Am a Rainbow, which she wrote herself. The readings stream on the Imagination Library, Dolly Parton and Dollywood social channels.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
()
LeVar Burton Reads
Best known to adults of a certain generation as Geordi from Star Trek: The Next Generation and to others as the guy from Reading Rainbow, Burton expands the reach of his popular podcast by making stories available on Twitter. The new series began last week. He reads to children on Mondays at 9 a.m., to young adult readers on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. and to adults on Fridays at 6 p.m. PDT.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Sonnet 5 is too hard. Here’s number 6. #ASonnetADay pic.twitter.com/WfPppZxc8Z
— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) March 26, 2020
Support for LAist comes from
Patrick Stewart
Speaking of Star Trek: TNG, Stewart (aka Capt. Jean-Luc Picard) has been reading Shakespeare's sonnets on Twitter. Stewart's British baritone is perfect for older kids -- and anxiety-riddled adults. We looked up how many sonnets the Bard wrote (154, in case you were wondering). Hopefully, quarantine will be lifted before Stewart runs out. Follow @sirpatstew on Twitter or search for the hashtag #ASonnetADay.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
SavewithStories
Actresses Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams have teamed up with Save the Children and No Kid Hungry to tell stories while raising money to help feed kids. Find stories on Instagram and Facebook including Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag, read by Glenn Close; It's Hard to Be Five by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell, read by Robin Wright; Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-this-World Moon-Pie Adventure by Tony DiTerlizzi, read by Kaitlyn Dever and her dog Banjo; The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak, read by Paul Scheer; If You Give A Dog A Donut by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond and read by Chris Evans; Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison and read by Gabrielle Union.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent. -
Kevin Lacy has an obsession with documenting California’s forgotten and decaying places. -
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures.
Best of LAist