“The witch had a cat, and a hat that was black...” Kate Winslet’s voice rises and falls with the rhythm, turning each line into a visual as she reads Julia Donaldson’s ‘Room on the Broom’. She does not rush. Rather, she lets the beat carry the story. The Academy Award-winning actor reads Room on the Broom in the latest video from Storyline Online, the children’s literacy programme that is free to watch at any hour. The read-aloud went live earlier this month on StorylineOnline.net and on the programme’s YouTube channel, just as the Halloween season gets underway. ‘Room on the Broom’ Written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, ‘Room on the Broom’ follows a friendly witch and her cat as they fly through the sky. When the wind blows away the witch’s hat, broom and wand, a helpful dog, bird and frog retrieve her belongings. In return, each of them asks for just one thing: a ride on the broom. The witch agrees and makes room for each new friend. However, the broom cannot hold the growing group of passengers and eventually snaps in two. The passengers tumble to the ground. When the witch suddenly finds herself face-to-face with a hungry dragon, her new friends must work together to come to her rescue. The story is filled with adventure and laced with humour. ‘Room on the Broom’ celebrates kindness, inclusion and the power of friendship. Julia Donaldson’s playful rhymes add to the beauty of the story. Kate Winslet knows the book Winslet knows the book well. She has read it to all her children. The fun, adventure and warmth that Winslet’s voice brings to the story are not entirely accidental. “I have read this book to all of my children, and it’s from the same author as ‘The Gruffalo’ and the same illustrator as ‘The Gruffalo’, and the same author and illustrator, too, as ‘The Smartest Giant in Town’. I really love being able to go into the worlds of these authors because they are imaginative. They are fun. There are always lots of characters. And as a person who loves reading stories to children, there are always lots of fun and silly voices to do,” Winslet said in a statement. Her performance leans into those voices, giving each animal its own personality as the witch’s journey gets busier and noisier. All these elements also make the book a perfect fit for the Halloween season.The SAG-AFTRA Foundation sees the book’s staying power as part of its appeal. Courtney B. Vance, President and Chairman of the Foundation, pointed to the lasting message beneath the spells and flying: “Room on the Broom has delighted children and families for 25 years because beneath all of the magic and adventure is a beautiful message about kindness, generosity and making room for others. Kate is an extraordinary storyteller, and we are thrilled to have her bring this beloved book to life for Storyline Online. It’s the perfect story to share with children, families and classrooms as we head into the Halloween season.”Storyline Online is produced by the nonprofit SAG-AFTRA Foundation and draws millions of views each month. Winslet’s reading is the 104th read-aloud in the library, which already includes performances by Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Viola Davis, Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Yeoh, among many others. Each video pairs an actor’s reading with illustrations created for the programme. Families and teachers can watch the video for free at StorylineOnline.net, where the full library is also available. The video also comes with a free activity guide aligned with Common Core Standards, designed to encourage reading comprehension and creative play in the classroom or at home.