Every month, millions of families turn to Storyline Online's library of celebrity read‑alouds, and the latest addition is the 104th video in the series.
What makes this particular read stand out is Winslet's deft use of vocal color—she gives each animal a distinct personality, from the cat's sassy meow to the dog's earnest bark—turning the rhymes into a living soundscape.
Winslet isn't just a voice; she's a storyteller who has read the book to her own children, and in an interview she said, "I love slipping into these worlds because they're imaginative, fun, and full of characters that let me experiment with silly voices."
The story itself is a classic Halloween‑friendly adventure: a witch loses her hat, broom, and wand, and a group of unlikely friends help her, only for the broom to snap and a dragon to appear—so every line feels like a mini‑movie.
SAG‑AFTRA's President Courtney B. Vance chimed in, noting the book's 25‑year legacy of kindness, and praising Winslet's performance as "extraordinary" in bringing the tale to life for families and classrooms.
The video is available free on StorylineOnline.net, and comes with a complimentary activity guide that lines up with Common Core Standards, encouraging kids to read, write, and play—making it a handy resource for teachers and parents alike.