Michelle Obama Launches New Kids Live-Streaming Series, ‘Mondays With Michelle Obama’

Michelle Obama is doing her part in providing children’s content as they have to stay home from school due to the coronavirus. The former first lady is launching “Mondays With Michelle Obama,” a live-streaming series in which she reads classic children’s books. The series, which launches today at 12 p.m. ET, is in collaboration with Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books and PBS Kids, according to Variety.

Obama will read “The Gruffalo” (written 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” (story and pictures by Eliza Wheeler) and Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” The series will live stream every Monday until May 4.

“As a little kid, I loved to read aloud,” Obama 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).”

Obama’s readings will be live-streamed simultaneously on PBS Kids’ Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as Penguin Random House’s Facebook page, Variety reports. The videos will be available for on-demand viewing on each platform afterward.