Michelle Obama is launching a new weekly live stream series where she’ll read some of her favourite children’s picture books.

Mondays With Michelle Obama will see the former First Lady read aloud from a different classic children’s book every Monday at noon ET (5pm UK time), starting 20th and running until 11th May.

Each of Michelle Obama’s reading will be live-streamed simultaneously on PBS Kids’ Facebook page and YouTube channel, and on Penguin Random House’s Facebook page. The videos will remain available for on-demand viewing on each platform afterward.

The four books Obama is reading are: The Gruffalo (April 20), written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler; There’s a Dragon in Your Book (April 27), written by Tom Fletcher and illustrated by Greg Abbott; Miss Maple’s Seeds (May 4), story and pictures by Eliza Wheeler; and Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

“As a little kid, I loved to read aloud,” said Michelle Obama. “And when I became a parent, I found such joy in sharing the magic of storytelling with my own children — and then later, as First Lady, with kids everywhere.”

She continued, “At this time when so many families are under so much stress, I’m excited to give kids a chance to practice their reading and hear some wonderful stories (and to give parents and caretakers a much-needed break).”