Olivia Munn Reads ‘The Most Magnificent Thing’ for Storyline Online®

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

Lovable New Release Celebrates Imagination, Disappointment and Determination

he Emmy-winning children’s literacy program Storyline Online® releases a new video today featuring ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ and ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ star Olivia Munn reading The Most Magnificent Thing, a hilarious and heartening story that exuberantly spotlights the ups and down of creative discovery, and the power of perspective and perseverance. The read-aloud premieres on storylineonline.net and on the Storyline Online YouTube channel.

Written and illustrated by Ashley Spires and published by Kids Can Press, The Most Magnificent Thing introduces young readers to an unnamed girl and her canine companion best friend, who do just about everything together. One day, the girl has a wonderful idea: she is going to make the most magnificent thing. But despite the dreaming, the sketching, and the hammering, that magnificent thing turns out to be anything but. As she tries repeatedly to see her vision through, she continually comes up short, leaving her so disappointed that she quits. In a quiet moment of reflection with her best friend, the young girl is able to shift her perspective, regroup, and ultimately realize her magnificent goal.

With a fun flair for the dramatic and a hilarious take on youthful frustration, Munn delivers a performance that is riotous and unrestrained. She is both charming and magnetic, fully committing to the child’s inner monologue and the intense swings of emotion that come at such an age. Her comfort in the reader’s chair is evident, and her natural chemistry with the camera lens harkens back to her early and popular work on G4’s ‘Attack of the Show!’

“What a wonderful story to tell,” says Olivia Munn. “With a very valuable life lesson on top of it. As the daughter of a ‘Tiger Mom,’ I wasn’t allowed to quit as a child, and today I credit her for pushing me through efforts that seemed quite tough at the time, activities like piano, taekwondo, and swimming. I love that this little girl decides not to give up, to go headfirst into the challenge and disappointment, so she can realize the true self-esteem that comes with sticking with something.”

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.

“What a pitch-perfect read!” says Courtney B. Vance, SAG-AFTRA Foundation President and Chairman of the Board. “Olivia is just so fun to watch here, drawing laughs as our young protagonist desperately tries to reach a goal. As we see the girl’s pain and frustration, which can easily feel sobering, there is a sense of exuberance and elevation that needed to come alive. Like the young girl at the end of the book, Olivia totally nailed it!”

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.

The Most Magnificent Thing is the 101st 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 Olivia Munn’s reading of The Most Magnificent Thing 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.