For National Book Month, Sir Gary Oldman Brings Classic Folktale ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’ to Life for Storyline Online®

Gary Oldman reads for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s children’s literacy program Storyline Online® / Photo courtesy of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation

In celebration of National Book Month, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emmy Award-winning children’s literacy program Storyline Online® announces its newest read-aloud featuring Sir Gary Oldman. The Academy Award-winning actor, honored for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour (2017) and BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated for his portrayal of Jackson Lamb in Apple TV+’s Slow Horses, reads The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Mac Barnett’s retelling of the classic folktale, illustrated by Jon Klassen and published by Scholastic.

In Barnett and Klassen’s brilliantly crafted and hilarious twist on the Norwegian fairy tale, three determined goats must outsmart a hungry and fearsome troll to cross the bridge and reach the greener grass on the other side. Oldman’s dynamic storytelling heightens the tension, humor and triumph of this timeless story about courage, cleverness and the art of working together.

“The written word has always been a central part of my life,” said Oldman. “In fact, when reading and selecting scripts, it is always the imagination and beauty of the written word that grabs me. The stories contained in the written word shape the way I see stories and characters to this very day. Joining Storyline Online is my way of sharing, and hopefully promoting, that love of reading with the next generation, and hopefully encouraging children to discover, to see, to imagine the possibilities that live between the covers of every book.”

Contributing decades of stage and screen mastery, Oldman infuses each goat with a distinct voice and personality, gives the troll an unforgettable presence, and gives a performance that is both theatrical and intimate. His reading captures the suspense of the tale while drawing children into the magic of language, illustrating why he is one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation.

“Gary Oldman is one of the most transformative actors of our time, and he brings that same versatility and passion to his reading of The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” said Courtney B. Vance, Chairman of the Board and President of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. “We’re thrilled to share his performance with young audiences everywhere, and we know children will be spellbound.”

In addition, the video is accompanied by a free activity guide for parents and teachers, aligned with Common Core Standards, to promote reading comprehension, writing, social-emotional learning and art.

Produced by the nonprofit SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Gary Oldman joins the illustrious roster of Storyline Online readers, including Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, Rami Malek, Chris Pine, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Yeoh and many more.

To watch Gary Oldman’s reading of The Three Billy Goats Gruff and explore the entire library of free videos, visit StorylineOnline.net. Keep up with new videos by subscribing to Storyline Online on YouTube and following Storyline Online on Instagram, X and Facebook.

Storyline Online is made possible through gifts, grants and sponsorships. For more information about becoming a Storyline Online sponsor, please email sponsorship@sagaftra.foundation.