Attention all home-schooling parents: Julia Donaldson, writer of The Gruffalo series, Stick Man and Zog, has announced a new weekly online broadcast for families during the coronavirus lockdown.

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The author will perform stories, songs and poems, broadcast on Facebook from her home in Steyning. Each episode – airing 4pm each Thursday on Facebook – she’ll be joined by guests including illustrators Axel Scheffler, Rebecca Cobb, Lydia Monks, David Roberts and Nick Sharratt.

"During this very difficult time, I am glad to be able to do something useful from the confines of my home,” Donaldson said.

"I hope that my stories, songs and poems bring a little cheer to those who read them or tune in to my new weekly broadcasts.

"I look forward to sharing some favourites and some lesser-known works with families everywhere."

You can watch the first broadcast below, featuring a performance of song A Squash and Squeeze. To all headphone users: you best turn down your volume before starting this.

Next week Donaldson will be reading book The Snail and the Whale Seaside, with a drawing lesson from illustrator Lydia Monks.

She joins the likes of Joe Wicks, Nick Cope and Oti Mabuse, who have all launched initiatives to both educate and keep the kids entertained at home.

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A new Julia Donaldson show will be available every Thursday from 4pm on Facebook. Check out what else is on with our TV Guide.

Authors

Thomas LingDigital editor, BBC Science Focus

Thomas is Digital editor at BBC Science Focus. Writing about everything from cosmology to anthropology, he specialises in the latest psychology, health and neuroscience discoveries. Thomas has a Masters degree (distinction) in Magazine Journalism from the University of Sheffield and has written for Men’s Health, Vice and Radio Times. He has been shortlisted as the New Digital Talent of the Year at the national magazine Professional Publishers Association (PPA) awards. Also working in academia, Thomas has lectured on the topic of journalism to undergraduate and postgraduate students at The University of Sheffield.

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