Michelle Obama is spreading positivity during what’s proving to be a trying time for many. The nation’s former first lady will host a weekly read-along series that aims to encourage children to continue reading while giving parents a slight reprieve. Obama has partnered with Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books and PBS KIDS for the series.
The four-week “Mondays with Michelle Obama” video series set to begin April 20 will spotlight the lawyer, author and activist as she reads a classic children’s book aloud. “As a little kid, I loved to read aloud,” she said in a statement. “And when I became a parent, I found such joy in sharing the magic of storytelling with my own children—and then later, as First Lady, with kids everywhere.”
“At this time when so many families are under so much stress, I’m excited to give kids a chance to practice their reading and hear some wonderful stories (and to give parents and caretakers a much-needed break),” she added, shedding light on her motivation for joining the project.
Families can tune into “Mondays with Michelle Obama” via livestream on both the PBS KIDS Facebook page and YouTube channel, and on Penguin Random House’s Facebook page. The videos will remain available for on-demand viewing afterward on each of those platforms.
The full schedule for the series includes:
April 20, noon EST, “The Gruffalo” written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler
April 27, noon EST, “There’s a Dragon in Your Book” written by Tom Fletcher and illustrated by Greg Abbott
May 4, noon EST, “Miss Maple’s Seeds,” story and pictures by Eliza Wheeler
May 11, noon EST: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” By Eric Carle
