Daisy Ridley, who played Rey in the latest Star Wars trilogy, Episodes VII-IX, participated in Disney’s “Storytime With…” by reading a Star Wars story, BB-8 On The Run.
At the end of the video Ridley makes it a point to thank everyone for trying to help during the pandemic, “Thank you to everyone staying at home and thank you to everyone out on the front lines helping those in need. Please accept my tiny offering of gratitude in the form of storytelling.”
In the video below Ridley reads BB-8 On The Run which is written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Matt Myers. Ridley makes it a point to show the beautiful illustrations while she reads this fun Star Wars children’s book.
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Storytime With Daisy Ridley
BB-8 On The Run canonically takes place during Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens and is told from the lovable droid’s perspective. This book tells the tale of what BB-8 got up to on Jakku between Po sending him to deliver the map to the Resistance and being rescued by Rey. BB-8 On The Run lets us get more of a glimpse into BB-8’s perspective and explains how the droid was captured by Tito. Daisy Ridley does a wonderful job of adding excitement and a bit of her own commentary to this quick Star Wars tale.
Disney recognizes that we live in difficult times and with people staying home to keep themselves and others safe, the House of Mouse is finding ways to inject a bit of Disney magic into everyone’s lives. Kids are finishing their school year at home and it looks like summer plans may need to be changed with many vacations hot spots closed for the foreseeable future and stay at home orders in place. However, don’t despair because Disney recognizes these challenges that families are facing. Disney’s “Storytime With…” infuses an extra layer of magic into storytelling for kids of all ages.
These quick children’s stories are a nice way for families to share a classic activity like bedtime stories all together. With times being as chaotic and difficult as they are right now it can be stressful for people and taking the time to listen to some of your favorite Disney actors reading books using the voices of the characters can be a quick, but very appreciated comfort and even a few minutes of family fun. Similar to what Josh Gad is doing with #GadBookClub, but all of the children’s stories on “Storytime With…” are Disney themed.
Disney’s “Storytime With…” series includes other stars reading books to try and help during this time of quarantine. Often the reader is connected to the characters in the story, like Daisy Ridley reading about BB-8 or Ming-Na Wen and Tony Hale reading about characters they voiced in Disney animated films. Some of the Disney stars include Jeff Goldblum reading a Pinocchio story from 365 Bedtime Stories, Elizabeth Olsen reads a Toy Story Easter story for the holiday from 5 Minute Easter Stories, Ginnifer Goodwin reads Judy Hops and the Missing Jumbo-Pop, Ming-Na Wen reads A Place For Mulan, Tony Hale reads Forky in Craft Buddy Day, and more.
Disney’s Storytime With… is a part of a larger campaign by Disney during the COVID-19 pandemic which also includes the original animated shorts At Home With Olaf, and drawing tutorials Draw With Pixar and How To Draw With Disney Animators.
We could all take a page out of BB-8 On The Run when the little droid remembers his pilot, Po, telling him “It’s easy buddy, you do good things and good things come back to you.” And keep trying to work together to flatten the curve by staying home during this global pandemic.
