KCET’s new ‘Storytime’ is worth a listen--plus it’s a valuable reading lesson

“It encourages kids to read, to like to read and to want to do it on their own when they can read for themselves,” Mayim Bialik, 16-year-old star of NBC’s “Blossom,” says of “Storytime.”

The KCET series, which premieres this week, features story favorites read aloud to a young audience by both celebrities and “reading buddies.” It is closed-captioned for the hearing impaired.

Bialik--whose parents are both teachers--was enthusiastic about appearing on the show as one of the celebrity readers.

“Everyone involved is so enthusiastic and all working for something good,” she says. “It was also a lot of fun. I got to do all kinds of sounds for the story I read and the kids in the audience really responded.”

For her episode, airing Dec. 6, Bialik reads “The Cat Who Lost His Purr” and “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”

“Since my mother was a nursery school director, reading stories to kids has been something I’ve always liked to do,” she says.

Fred Savage of ABC’s “The Wonder Years” is featured in the premiere episode and reads “Willy the Wimp” by Anthony Brown and “The Mitten,” by Jan Brett.

After the readings, the stories are discussed among a small audience of both children and adults.

Each book in the show is introduced by host Marabina Jaimes and her co-host, the puppet Kino.

The show also features an outreach program that includes the distribution of 5,000 poster-coloring books as well as a “reading tips” pamphlet to encourage parents to read aloud to their children.

“Storytime,” Bialik says, “is for anyone who likes to hear stories and look at pictures.”

“Storytime” airs Sundays 7-7:30 p.m. and repeats Fridays 11:30-noon and 4 p.m. and Sundays 9 a.m. KCET. For ages 2 to 8.

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