Story Box Library: Free online book readings for children during coronavirus lockdown

Created by a Macedon Ranges mum, Story Box Library is offering free access to its children’s books read by well-known Australians online. And locked-down families, plus schools and libraries, are loving it.

Noni Hazelhurst reads Leigh Hobbs’ Mr Chicken Around Australia.

Are the kids driving you mad yet while we’re all in coronavirus lockdown? The Story Box Library is providing parents with free ‘interactive’ online books to help with the transition of learning and working from home.

With iPads and phones, parents can often be overwhelmed in finding safe, entertaining and educational content for children – Story Box allows parents to create book ‘playlists’ of Australian titles read by authors, TV personalities and musicians.

Based in Kyneton, with a team office in St Kilda, Story Box Library founder and mum of two Nicole Brownlee said the online storytelling kept children engaged.

“It’s listening to an audio book with extra visual elements without having kids on any gaming,” she said.

“It’s a far more calming opportunity for children to be engaged digitally, but also have the experience of having a book read to them.

“You’re listening to the words being read to you as well as watching the images on the screen.”

High resolution images are created from the book and have the text removed for a more immersive experience.

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Danny Katz reads one of the books in his Little Lunch series.

For schools seeking interactive learning material, the site contains student task sheets and curriculum linked to classroom ideas and practical discussion.

All student activities can be completed independently at home – free two-month subscriptions are available during the COVID-19 crisis.

Story Box Library has free storytelling available online through your library and school with individual memberships available.

POPULAR TITLES

Nick Cave reading The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek

Justine Clarke reading a Bob Graham classic

Noni Hazelhurst reading Alison Lester’s Noni the Pony, Jackie’s French’s Diary of a Wombat and Leigh Hobbs’ Mr Chicken Around Australia

Danny Katz reading his Little Lunch book

For more visit, storyboxlibrary.com.au

@GraceMcKinnonL