Michael Palin, Maxine Peake and Lauren Laverne read new stories in updated CBeebies Storytime app
The BBC today announced that its popular CBeebies Storytime app will add a new library feature that allows children and their parents to download a range of CBeebies stories, featuring some familiar voices including Lauren Laverne, Maxine Peake and Michael Palin.
Published: 4 June 2015
Our dedicated teams have created something truly amazing and this is a very proud moment for us at CBeebies. I’m delighted that Storytime and our other wonderful CBeebies app, Playtime, have been downloaded 5 million times collectively, showing how our audiences have embraced new platforms over recent years.
The free app has reached over 1 million downloads to date, and from today, six new stories will be available with plenty more to follow this summer.
Just like a real life library, children can take out (download) up to 12 stories of their choice at a time, and when they have finished their adventure - whether it is with Charlie and Lola, The Octonauts, Show Me Show Me or something entirely new - they can return it to the Storytime library.
The app aims to engage children in reading and storytelling and is designed to help improve reading and listening skills, while encouraging ‘family learning’. The new library feature will make sure the app doesn’t take up too much space on parents’ smartphones, but still lets children pick from the selection of free stories that are available on the go.
Kay Benbow, Controller of CBeebies, says: “Our dedicated teams have created something truly amazing and this is a very proud moment for us at CBeebies. I’m delighted that Storytime and our other wonderful CBeebies app, Playtime, have been downloaded 5 million times collectively, showing how our audiences have embraced new platforms over recent years.”
From today, the following new stories will be available in the CBeebies Storytime Library:
Topsy and Tim – Helping Dad
Topsy and Tim help Dad with the decorating but think they need another grown-up to help them.
CBeebies Fairytales - Cinderella
Maxine Peake reads this wonderful magical tale of a girl named Cinderella who isn’t allowed to go to the ball, but then she meets her Fairy Godmother.
Swashbuckle – A Band of Naughty Pirates
Cook, Line and Captain Sinker go on an adventure to find Gem’s jewels in this swashbuckling story written by Joseph Elliott and Richard David-Caine.
CBeebies Stargazing – The Eclipse Party
Chris Jarvis reads this enchanting story of Cassiopeia, the Queen who visits a planet to see the eclipse with her special friends, the Clangers.
Tee and Mo – Who did the Footprints?
In this fun story read by Lauren Laverne, Mo wants to go out for a walk, but Tee wants to play detective and find out who made the muddy footprints he's found.
Cbeebies Elves and the Shoemaker
Mr Bloom reads this classic tale of Elves and the Shoemaker. The Shoemakers are surprised when they discover a pair of magical shoes created by the Elves.
The first two stories that will be added later this summer are:
Something Special - Mr Tumble at the Park
Mr Tumble is hiding at the park - read the story to find out where he could be.
Clangers - Space Tangle
In this charming story, Small Clanger is having a picnic when he notices the Iron Chicken is stuck in space. Tiny and Major Clanger help Small to recuse the Iron Chicken. Read by Michael Palin.
Each story is designed to help support early years reading - with entertaining things to touch, swipe and play with within each story - as well as recall questions to help develop comprehension skills. The app has two reading options: ‘Read to Me’ and ‘Read by Myself’ – plus guided interaction points to engage the child throughout their learning development.
A dedicated Grown Ups section includes tips to support children’s reading development, including links to more useful information from the CBeebies Grown Ups website.
CBeebies Storytime also features an accessibility mode which helps children and parents/carers with a range of abilities to access and enjoy reading stories. This mode is activated in the Grown-Ups section of the app.
The CBeebies Storytime app is available to download for free within the UK via the Apple iTunes, Google Play and the Amazon app store.
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