The YouTube Kids’ reading initiative for children, the #ReadAlong month in partnership with major book publishers launched its second edition in June. This year, the campaign has a wider global focus. To this end, it will run longer than the month of June, and will include many non-Western countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, such as Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Among partnering publishers, HarperCollins’ #KidCritic features book reviews by kids, for kids. Penguin Random House’s Brightly Kids channel already has numerous storybook read-along videos, and more are on their way. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has offered narrated fairytales daily throughout the month of June, and National Geographic Kids introduced children to the world of nonfiction.
The first #ReadAlong campaign launched in June 2016, less than two years after YouTube Kids made its app store debut. #ReadAlong 2016 featured content from children’s publishers and the School of Rock Broadway showrunners.
