A YOUTUBE channel set up by a West Kirby family will launch its new series “Story Time” today in the hope of bringing books to life for youngsters.

Christian and Amalie Hughes set up Toddler Fun Learning two years ago to create videos to help their own children – four-year-old Josh and three-year-old Poppy – learn.

Wirral Globe:
TV presenter Dan Snow reads the classic tale and family favourite, Cinderella.

Their YouTube channel has since had more than 30 million views and 40,000 subscribers.

Today sees the launch of their new series ‘Story Time’, created in partnership with Ladybird Books.

The series was filmed at YouTube’s studios in London and features a range of familiar faces as storytellers including Miranda Gore-Browne (Great British Bake Off) and DJ BBQ (Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube).

The launch video will feature well-known historian and TV presenter, Dan Snow, reading the classic tale and family favourite, Cinderella. 

Dan said: “Books have always been a huge part of my life and now that I have little ones I want to share my love of reading with them and bring excitement into our storytelling. I was thrilled to be asked to be a part of Story Time and I only hope my storytelling brings the books to life for all those that watch.”

Toddler Fun Learning creates fun, free and educational videos for children to watch around the world. 

Currently, Amalie and Christian upload a new animated video to their channel every Friday at midday.

But the Story Time series videos will be released every Tuesday at midday and will run all the way up until the beginning of December.

The videos will cover a range of well-loved Ladybird stories including, Ladybird First Favourite fairy tales, Skullabones Island and Topsy and Tim.

Amalie, who has recently left her marketing manager role at digital agency Mando Group to concentrate on the family business, said: “We are thrilled to launch our Story Time series, and are so happy with the content that we have created using Ladybirds backlist of amazing titles to inspire children to pick up a book to read more.

“We hope to follow up the success of this series with another series focused on slightly older children.

“Story Time is aimed at bringing life into books and encouraging interest and excitement about reading to children.

“We are very aware of the battle of screen time for children however we are trying to embrace the fast moving pace of technology and take something very traditional – reading a book - into the 21st Century.”