# Storyline Online

> Actors read children's books with illustrations to promote literacy. (iPhone/iPad app by SAG-AFTRA Foundation.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyline-online/id1262706499 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [SAG-AFTRA Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1262706498)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 208 App Store ratings · 43 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 27 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-08-21
- Data updated: 2026-09-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyline-online/id1262706499/reviews.md

## What is Storyline Online?

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s award-winning children’s literacy website, Storyline Online, streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. Readers include Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Betty White and dozens more.

Storyline Online receives over 100 million views annually from children all over the world.

Reading aloud to children has been shown to improve reading, writing and communication skills, logical thinking and concentration, and general academic aptitude, as well as inspire a lifelong love of reading. Teachers use Storyline Online in their classrooms, and doctors and nurses play Storyline Online in children’s hospitals.

Storyline Online is available 24 hours a day for children, parents, caregivers and educators worldwide. 

Storyline Online is a program of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that relies entirely on gifts, grants and donations to fund Storyline Online and produce all of its videos.

You can help the SAG-AFTRA Foundation create more Storyline Online videos and new content, so that we can read to millions more children every month. By giving a gift to Storyline Online, you can help advance children’s literacy, and improve children’s lives. Your support makes a world of difference.

## Key features

- Celebrated actors reading children's books
- Creatively produced illustrations
- Promotes reading, writing, and communication skills
- Used by teachers and healthcare professionals
- Available 24/7 worldwide
- Free literacy resource

## What do users think of Storyline Online?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 📚 Wonderful stories and content
- 🤩 Engaging for children
- 👨‍🏫 Great educational resource
- 🗣️ Excellent narration by actors
- ✨ Beautiful videos
- 🆓 Free to access
- 👍 Easy to use app
- 💡 Amazing idea

**Cons**

- 🐛 App crashes frequently
- 🐛 Books do not load
- 🐛 Audio issues (no sound)
- 🐛 App freezes or shuts down
- 🐛 Videos cut off or stop playing
- 🐛 Captions are inaccurate or misplaced
- 🐛 App is inconsistent
- 🐛 Takes a long time to load
- 🐛 Content disappears after exiting
- 🐛 Unwanted video selection
- 🐛 Cannot exit videos
- 🐛 Schooltube has no captions
- 🐛 Sponsor links lead to websites

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Books do not load
- App crashes
- App freezes
- App shuts down
- Videos cut off
- Audio doesn't work
- Captions are wrong
- App is inconsistent
- Takes a long time to load
- Content disappears after exiting
- Cannot exit videos
- Goes back to home screen
- Video playbook error

**Most requested features**

- Add more books
- Add more Spanish stories
- Make available on Apple TV
- Fix captions
- Allow exiting videos
- Improve Schooltube captions
- Relocate sponsor links

## Recent user reviews (10 of 43)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/storyline-online/id1262706499/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Doesn’t Load any books! Says error!

*2026-01-19*

My daughter, students and I love these books and all the wonderful people reading them. However, none of the books load on the app! It doesn’t work! Please fix!!!!

### 5/5 — No, it’s not just you.

*2026-01-04, version 1.3.2*

You just have to be a bit patient

### 5/5 — The best Stories

*2025-12-21*

these stories are so good and my daughter is very interested watching new stories everyday!

### 1/5 — Won’t let me listen to books

*2025-12-10*

Your app won’t let us listen to your books and so we had to delete it and re-download it I did that two times and it still won’t let I listen to books

### 5/5 — Fabulous Read-Aloud Resource

*2025-10-29, version 1.3.2*

The Storyline Online App is all the best parts of Reading Rainbow from my childhood. We just opened it up after months of neglect and were consistently receiving a video playbook error code. It wanted to take us to YouTube itself versus playing through the app. A quick uninstall and reinstall and voila! the pages are turning yet again. Thank you for such a beautiful resource for children who adore being read aloud to, it makes me feel a little less guilty when I can’t squeeze in the 107th reading of their newest favorite.

### 2/5 — Is it just me?

*2025-01-17*

So I was had this add for maybe a month now, and when I wanted to listen to another book I pressed it then…it showed a white screen which means loading. But then it took a long long time. And I deleted it and pressed a book again but it still was like that. And maybe it’s my iPad I don’t know yet
[<:(Thanks for reading!):>]

### 5/5 — Wonderful

*2024-07-26*

My daughters love listening to the stories during bath time.  It is relaxing and provides another voice to story time in our house.  We have listened to 90% of the books and enjoy listening again and again.

### 1/5 — This app never let’s me read my favorite books!!!!!

*2023-11-16*

So I try to read the books I want to read but when I got on a  books it never worked I feel like I need to wait for a month or two years. It only let’s me read two books. I didn’t even wait . And that’s why I gave it a one star .

### 5/5 — Thank you!

*2022-09-21*

Amazing idea, we love it and are looking forward to more Spanish stories!

### 1/5 — Why when we exit it takes the book away?

*2022-08-18, version 1.3.1*

When I read and take a break a leave the book the book is gone

## Frequently asked questions about Storyline Online

### What is Storyline Online?

Storyline Online is an award-winning children's literacy website that streams videos of celebrated actors reading children's books. Each reading is accompanied by creatively produced illustrations, aiming to enhance reading, writing, and communication skills in children.

### What are the key features of Storyline Online?

Key features include readings by famous actors, engaging illustrations, and content designed to improve children's academic aptitude and foster a love for reading. The platform is accessible 24 hours a day to users worldwide and is utilized by educators and healthcare professionals.

### Is Storyline Online free to use?

Yes, Storyline Online is a free program of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. It is funded entirely by gifts, grants, and donations, allowing it to be available to children, parents, caregivers, and educators globally without charge.

### Who is Storyline Online for?

This app is designed for children, parents, caregivers, and educators worldwide who want to promote literacy and a love of reading. It is also used by doctors and nurses in children's hospitals and by teachers in classrooms.

### How does Storyline Online help children?

Reading aloud to children, as facilitated by Storyline Online, has been shown to improve reading, writing, and communication skills, logical thinking, concentration, and general academic aptitude. It also aims to inspire a lifelong love of reading.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.3.20 — 2026-08-31

Resolved the URL redirection.

### 1.3.19 — 2026-05-16

Improve the app functionality.

### 1.3.2 — 2022-09-21

Removes user tracking

### 1.3.1 — 2020-11-08

Fixes layout issue due to missing books on rendering.

### 1.3 — 2020-11-04

The Storyline Online app has been upgraded to latest SDKs and includes an additional video player for Vimeo.

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## Related topics

[tumblebooks](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/tumblebooks)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*