Haley Lu Richardson Reads ‘That Cat Can’t Stay’ for Storyline Online®

Haley Lu Richardson reads for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s children’s literacy program Storyline Online® / Photo courtesy of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation

Joyful New Release Celebrates Family, Compromise & Pet Adoption

The Emmy-winning children’s literacy program Storyline Online® released a new video today featuring ‘Ponies’ and ‘The White Lotus’ star Haley Lu Richardson reading That Cat Can’t Stay, a humorous tale about the love of cats and dogs. The read-aloud premieres on storylineonline.net and on the Storyline Online YouTube channel.

Written by Thad Krasnesky, illustrated by David Parkins and published by Flashlight Press, That Cat Can’t Stay shares the story of one family’s very complicated, yet comedic, pet adoption process. When Mom’s uber affection for cats propels her to invite more strays from the street, Dad becomes frustrated when he sees his favorite chair has been taken over by the new feline companions. Hoping to resolve the situation, he makes a visit to the pound to bring home a new puppy – but will it settle the score, or just add to the antics? Find out by checking out Storyline Online’s newest addition.

With a delightful and expressive performance, and a real knack for the rhythm that is essential to the text, Richardson is a joy to watch – able to embody multiple voices with tons of charm and charisma while maintaining exuberance throughout. Her unique delivery – like getting gravelly as dad, or going big as mom – is hilarious; while her on screen facial expressions add a fun and memorable flavor to the words. She looks very at home in the reader’s chair.

“I’ve always had an affinity for rhyme and rhythm” says Haley Lu Richardson who is a published author, having released her first poetry book last year. “This was a true joy to get to bring to life. It was a blast and oh so freeing to step into multiple roles that span ages and genders I normally wouldn’t be cast for. I hope the readers and cat lovers have as much fun watching this as I did reading it.”

The video is accompanied by a free activity guide for parents and teachers, aligned with Common Core Standards, to support reading comprehension and creative engagement.

“We have worked with so many talented readers throughout this program,” remarked Courtney B. Vance, President and Chairman of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. “Haley not only fits right in with the best, but she really shows a side of herself that I’ve yet to see on screen. I am so excited to see how this read-aloud lands with children and educators, but also what it unlocks for her as her career continues to skyrocket. She’s fantastic.”

With millions of views each month, Storyline Online features celebrated actors reading beloved children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Produced by the nonprofit SAG-AFTRA Foundation, the series is available for free, 24/7, to children, families and educators around the world.

That Cat Can’t Stay is the 102nd read-aloud in Storyline Online’s acclaimed library, which includes read-alouds by Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Bryan Cranston, Viola Davis, John Lithgow, Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Chris Pine, Meryl Streep, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Yeoh and many more.

To watch Haley Lu Richardson’s reading of That Cat Can’t Stay and explore the full 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.