online storytellers

The Internet offers kids LOTS of ways to enjoy books, from digital picture books to online audio in English or Spanish to videos of actors and actresses reading favorite stories. Explore the links below for find fun online activities provided by clever librarians around the country and the world.

StoryPlace

A Children's Digital Library provided by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, N.C., StoryPlace came about to provide children with the virtual experience of going to the library and participating in the same types of activities the library offers. In the summer of 1999, a team of Children's Librarians and Specialists got together with in-house web developers to begin development on this exciting site. In the Spring of 2000, StoryPlace premiered with it's first section, the Pre-School Library, completed. StoryPlace currently consists of two libraries, the Preschool Library and Elementary Library with new activities and themes being added each month.

International Children's Digital Library

Called a "Library for the World's Children," this service is led by the University of Maryland and the Internet Archive, a partnership of government, non-profit, industry and academic organizations. The International Children's Digital Library is designed to provide children ages 3 to 13 with an unparalleled opportunity to experience different cultures through literature and an unequaled ease in accessing online books. The new digital library began in 2002 and now has more than 800 books in the collection, representing 43 countries and 32 languages. The ICDL has attracted large audiences young and old worldwide. More than 500,000 unique visitors from 158 countries have accessed the ICDL to learn more about the project and view books in the collection. Looking ahead to the third anniversary of the International Children’s Digital Library, the ICDL Research Team hopes that users will find the new Web site accessible and easy to navigate in order to continue serving our diverse audience of children and adults around the world.

Storyline Online

Created by the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, Storyline is an online streaming video program that features SAG members reading children's books aloud. Each book includes accompanying activities and lesson ideas. It also offers a newsletter and other coolness.