In Celebration of National Reading Month, Storyline Online® Introduces Kids’ Top Pick Seal of Approval

In celebration of National Reading Month in March, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy program, Storyline Online®, is proud to introduce the Kids’ Top Pick Seal of Approval in recognition of books featured on Storyline Online that have captivated young audiences, and demonstrated exceptional viewership and engagement.

This announcement follows Meryl Streep’s recent Children’s & Family Emmy Award® win for her captivating read-aloud of The Three Questions on Storyline Online®, marking the program’s first-ever Emmy Award®-winning reader.

Storyline Online® is a free children’s literacy program, produced by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, that streams ad-free videos of celebrated actors, including Angela Bassett, Cynthia Erivo, John Lithgow, Meryl Streep, Michelle Yeoh and 90 more, reading beloved children’s books aloud, accompanied by creatively produced illustrations. Available 24/7, Storyline Online is a trusted resource for parents, educators, and caregivers, supporting literacy development in millions of children worldwide. With over 900 million views, the program continues to inspire young readers, and promote a lifelong love of books and reading.

The Kids’ Top Pick Seal of Approval highlights books that have resonated with children, families, and educators, establishing them as prevalent educational tools for early literacy. To qualify for the seal, a Storyline Online read-aloud video must have surpassed 1 million views, a milestone that reflects the book’s popularity and impact. This distinction offers parents, educators, and publishers an easily identifiable mark of excellence, signifying a book’s success in engaging young readers and fostering a love of storytelling.

“Storyline Online’s Kids’ Top Pick Seal of Approval signifies a book’s impact and popularity with our audience, making it a valuable tool for educators, parents, and publishers dedicated to nurturing young minds,” said Courtney B. Vance, President and Chairman of the Board of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. “Through this initiative, we celebrate the books that have sparked imagination and inspired reading, and have become favorite stories among children worldwide.”

Once a Storyline Online video surpasses 1 million views, publishers will be notified that their book has qualified for the Kids’ Top Pick Seal of Approval designation. In recognition, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation will provide certificates of achievement to the publishing house for the publisher, author, and illustrator, along with official Kids’ Top Pick Seal of Approval assets for their use. The seal of approval features Storyline Online’s logo and colors for brand consistency as well as a gold seal for print use.

Seventy-seven books have been awarded the Kids’ Top Pick Seal of Approval, including some of the most beloved and widely viewed stories on Storyline Online. The top five most-watched videos that have earned this distinction are:

1. Arnie the Doughnut, written and illustrated by Laurie Keller, published by Henry Holt and Company, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers, and read by Chris O’Dowd with over 26.1 million views

2. I Need My Monster, written by Amanda Noll, illustrated by Howard McWilliam, published by Flashlight Press, and read by Rita Moreno with over 20 million views

3. A Bad Case of Stripes, written and illustrated by David Shannon, published by Scholastic Inc., and read by Sean Astin with over 16.2 million views

4. Carla’s Sandwich, written by Debbie Herman, illustrated by Sheila Bailey, published by Flashlight Press, and read by Allison Janney with over 14.9 million views

5. Hey, That’s MY Monster!, written by Amanda Noll, illustrated by Howard McWilliam, published by Flashlight Press, and read by Lily Tomlin with over 12.1 million views

Publishers, authors, and illustrators are encouraged to showcase the Storyline Online Kids’ Top Pick Seal of Approval on relevant marketing materials to highlight their Storyline Online affiliation and reach. Once granted the seal, they may display it on book covers, online, and for retail as a recognizable symbol of Storyline Online’s endorsement, helping parents and educators quickly identify books that have enriched literacy experiences for millions of children across the globe.

For more information about the Kids’ Top Pick Seal of Approval and to explore Storyline Online’s collection of read-aloud videos, visit www.storylineonline.net.

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