Celebrities who are reading children's books aloud online

Stuck at home, it's hard to find new things to do. And with the lockdown, it's difficult to get new things to entertain oneself. Books are a great source of entertainment and many celebrities seem to want to assist in nurturing reading habits in their fans during this time of social distancing.

Many celebrities are reading aloud from books on social media. Most are reading out tales for children and some are reading books they have written themselves. A few initiatives like SaveWithStories have also recruited celebrities for the cause.

If one has children, they are probably more restless and, depending on how long they have been on lockdown for, gone through all their books. It's hard to get fresh books now and these readings are a good way to encourage them to enjoy books. Since most of the celebrities reading aloud are performers of some kind, their readings are animated and engaging and, if the comments are to be believed, enjoyable for adults as well as children. Here are some you should tune into:

Bollywood actress Kalki Koechlin joined an online reading campaign for kids in June 2020. Kalki read 'Go Away Coronavirus!', a picture book twritten by Divya Thomas which tells the kids about their safety, discusses their fears and gives hopes to the readers for a better future. This was done as a part of Tulika Publishers' multilingual reading campaign called 'Many Languages... Many Voices... Many Stories...'. Watch Kalki Koechlin read the picture book HERE.

(Photo: Tulika Publishers/ YouTube)

The bestselling author and the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama is reading aloud from picture books online for children all over the world. Every Monday since April 20th she has been reading out a book to "give kids an opportunity to practice their reading (while giving families a much-needed break!)," she said on Twitter. Her book list is 'The Gruffalo' by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, 'There’s a Dragon in Your Book', written by Tom Fletcher and illustrated by Greg Abbott, 'Miss Maple’s Seeds', written and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler, and 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' by Eric Carle.

Photo: MichelleObama/Twitter

The Duchess of Sussex put up a video of her reading aloud to her son Archie on Save the Children UK to help raise funds for their corona virus appeal.

She shared the video on Archie's first birthday, which all followers of the Royal family were curious to see celebration pictures of. She read aloud to him from a book called "Duck! Rabbit" by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by

Tom Lichtenheld while he, like all babies, half-listened while giggling and swiping at the book.

Photo: savechildrenuk/Instagram

The award-winning actress is also the author of several children's books, which she co-authored with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton. Now the two of them have launched a podcast called Julie's Library' for children and families on April 29. Every Wednesday she reads a book out. It is aimed at families and not just children and hopes to cause more interaction and discussion.

Photo: JuliesLibrary/Twitter

This famous country singer just launched a 10-week series where she'll be reading aloud children's books for all who want to tune in. For years now her nonprofit Imagination Library has been providing books to young children with the aim of promoting a reading habit, in fact, a generation might know her to be The Book Lady rather than a famous singer. Now she will be using her unique voice to read aloud picture books. The first book is “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper as this year marks it's 90th anniversary.

“This is something I have been wanting to do for quite a while, but the timing never felt quite right. I think it is pretty clear that now is the time to share a story and to share some love. It is an honor for me to share the incredible talent of these authors and illustrators. They make us smile, they make us laugh and they make us think,” Dolly said.

Photo: imaginationlibrary.com

This famous actor and comedian is best known to kids as the voice of the snowman Olaf in Frozen. He has announced that he will be reading children's books aloud for 10 minutes every night on Twitter for all who want to listen. He reads to his daughters every night to help them relax and feels he should share that with his followers so he started the #GadBookClub . With his range of voices, he has been providing an animated reading and had many tuning in to enjoy the live readings.

Photo: twitter.com/joshgad

This famous actor read 'The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark' by Ken Geist, illustrated by Julia Gorton out on Instagram. She and Amy Adams started the SaveWithStories Instagram page to read stories aloud and to help raise money to feed children in need of it.

Photo: instagram.com/savewithstories

On the same charity Instagram page, actress Amy Adams read aloud from 'Dinosaur Princess' by Aviana Olea Le Gallo, illustrated by Darren Le Gallo.

Photo: instagram.com/savewithstories

Actress and producer Reese Witherspoon is known to be an avid reader. She runs a digital book club where she suggests a book every month. She read 'Uni the Unicorn' by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Brigette Barrager out on the SaveWithStories Instagram page.

Photo: instagram.com/savewithstories

The popular Disney star, musician and actress Demi Lovato read 'The Gruffalo' by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler on the SaveWithStories Instagram page.

Photo: instagram.com/savewithstories

Brianne Sidonie Desaulniers, better known as Brie Larson, also came on the SaveWithStories Instagram page. The famous Captain Marvel actress read 'Giraffes Can’t Dance' by Giles Andreae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Reese

Photo: instagram.com/savewithstories

The famous Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon read his own book aloud! Titled 'This Is Baby' and illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez, the book was dedicated to his children and mother. He read aloud from the book in a very interactive video, often asking the listeners questions.

Photo: instagram.com/savewithstories

Geoffrey Cox is a Member of the British Parliament and he also did a reading. While most of the previous have chosen picture books and made a video showcasing the illustrations, he simply did a reading He shared a reading of a Chinese fairy tale entitled, "The Stone Monkey", told by H A Giles.

Photo: twitter.com/Geoffrey_Cox

The author of The Gruffalo series, 'Stick Man' and 'Zog', Julia Donaldson has launched a weekly podcast in partnership with publishers Macmillan and Scholastic. It is a video podcast and she will read aloud poems, perform stories and songs to keep viewers at home entertained. Her husband will join in to help and sometimes others like her book's illustrator Axel Scheffler will join in. It will be on the Facebook page of The Gruffalo.

Photo: facebook.com/OfficialGruffalo