A grandmother in Georgia opens a children's book while her grandson settles onto the couch in Ohio. She's been looking forward to their Sunday afternoon storytime, and he's excited to see her. But a few minutes into the story, something familiar happens.
She turns the page, and he asks to see the picture again. She holds the book closer to the camera, but the illustration is difficult to make out. When she pulls it back, the words are too small for him to follow. He wants to point out something funny in the corner of the page, but Grandma can't tell what he's looking at.
Before long, they're spending more time adjusting the book than enjoying the story.
It's a small frustration, but one that many long-distance families recognize. Reading together feels like such a natural way to connect, yet making it work across two different homes can be surprisingly awkward.
The good news is that it doesn't have to be.
With a little preparation, families can share the same story online, follow along together, and create the kind of reading experience that feels less like a video call and more like spending time side by side.
And when the story invites both people to participate, something even more meaningful can happen.
Why Reading the Same Story Together Feels Different
There's something special about two people experiencing the same story at the same time.
When a child and grandparent read together in person, they share more than the words on the page. They notice illustrations, laugh at unexpected moments, pause to ask questions, and sometimes spend several minutes discussing something that has very little to do with the original storyline.
A child might notice a tiny mouse hiding behind a tree. Grandpa might wonder why the character is carrying a mysterious key. They might disagree about what will happen next or invent their own explanation for something unusual.
Those little exchanges are often what make reading together memorable.
When families live apart, it's easy for reading to become a one-sided activity. The adult reads while the child listens through a screen. That can still be comforting and enjoyable, particularly at bedtime, but it doesn't always capture the back-and-forth experience of sharing a book together.
Reading the same story online creates an opportunity for something more collaborative.
Both people can follow the characters, notice details, make predictions, and react to what happens. Instead of simply listening to someone tell a story, the child becomes part of a shared experience.
For grandparents, traveling parents, military families, and other loved ones separated by distance, that experience can offer a familiar way to spend meaningful time together.
The Challenge of Sharing a Physical Book Over Video
One of the most obvious ways to read together online is to hold a physical book in front of a phone, tablet, or computer camera.
It can work, especially for short books with large illustrations. But anyone who has tried it knows that the experience isn't always as simple as it sounds.
The adult has to balance the book, keep the pages visible, and read the words while checking whether the child can see everything. Depending on the camera, the illustrations may appear blurry or reversed. Glare from a nearby lamp can make a page difficult to see, and the child may struggle to point out details that catch their attention.
There are practical ways to improve the experience. A tablet or laptop positioned on a stable surface can make the call easier to manage. Good lighting helps, and a simple stand can free the adult's hands. If both households own a copy of the same book, they can follow along without relying on the camera to show every page.
But even with those adjustments, reading together may still feel a little different from sitting beside someone with an open book between you.
That's why it helps to consider several ways families can share the same story, rather than assuming that holding a book up to a camera is the only option.
One Story, Two Copies, Two Homes
If both households have a copy of the same book, reading together becomes much easier.
A grandparent can read aloud while the child follows along in their own copy. The adult might say, "Let's look at the picture on page six," or "Did you notice what's hiding behind the tree?"
The child can examine the illustration closely, turn pages independently, and point out details without needing the adult to reposition a camera.
For children who are beginning to read confidently, the experience can become even more collaborative. They might take turns reading a paragraph or choose a character whose dialogue they want to perform.
An eight-year-old might insist on giving the villain a ridiculous voice. Grandpa might decide that every animal in the story sounds suspiciously like a pirate. Soon, they're laughing so much that they have to reread the same sentence.
Of course, buying two copies of every book isn't always practical, especially for families who want to read something new each week.
Library borrowing may help when both locations have access to the same title, and some families enjoy choosing books well in advance so each household has time to find a copy.
But when coordinating physical books becomes another task on an already busy schedule, digital reading can offer a simpler alternative.
Reading a Digital Book Together Online
Digital books can make it easier for families to access the same story without mailing books or coordinating purchases.
Depending on the platform, families may be able to read a digital book on separate devices while talking through a video call. In some cases, a screen-sharing feature can allow one person to display the story so everyone can follow along.
The exact setup depends on the devices, reading service, and permissions associated with the book. Not every e-book can be shared across screens, and some services restrict how their content can be displayed.
For families using ordinary video-calling tools, it's worth testing the arrangement before inviting a child to join. A setup that seems straightforward to an adult may become frustrating if everyone spends the first ten minutes trying to find the correct window or page.
The goal is to make technology almost disappear into the background.
When everyone can see the story clearly and follow the same part of the book, attention can return to what matters: the characters, the illustrations, and the conversation happening between the people reading.
Let the Story Become a Conversation
Once families have figured out how to see the same story, the next question is how to make the experience enjoyable for both people.
This is where shared reading can become much more interesting than simply taking turns reading aloud.
Imagine a story in which two children discover a trail of enormous footprints leading into a forest.
Before the characters follow the trail, Grandma announces that the footprints must belong to a giant bird. Her granddaughter is convinced they're from a dragon.
They study the illustration together. The child points out that the footprints have only three toes, which she believes proves her theory. Grandma argues that dragons probably have four.
Neither knows the answer, so they keep reading.
A few pages later, another clue appears. The creature seems to have feathers, and Grandma celebrates. But then the characters hear a tremendous roar, and her granddaughter is certain she's about to win their friendly argument.
By the time the mystery is solved, they've spent nearly as much time discussing their theories as reading the story itself.
That's not a distraction from the experience.
It's part of what makes the experience meaningful.
The child is expressing ideas, noticing details, listening to another perspective, and enjoying the playful challenge of figuring something out together. Grandma is discovering how her granddaughter thinks, what makes her laugh, and how she approaches an unfamiliar situation.
And both now have a funny moment they can remember the next time they talk.
The story has given them something to share that goes beyond the words on the page.
Choose Stories That Give Children Something to Think About
Not every book creates the same opportunities for conversation.
Some stories are wonderful to listen to, with beautiful language, memorable characters, and satisfying endings. Others naturally invite readers to wonder, predict, compare, or imagine what might happen next.
For children ages 5–9, stories with a little mystery, humor, discovery, or an unexpected problem can be especially enjoyable to explore with another person.
A character might discover an unfamiliar object without knowing what it does. Two friends may disagree about how to solve a problem. An animal could behave in a surprising way, leaving readers to figure out why.
These moments give children a reason to pause and think.
The most interesting conversations don't always come from asking a formal question such as, "What do you think the author is trying to teach us?"
They often happen more naturally.
A child might suddenly say, "Wait! I know what that is!" or "I would never go in there!" An adult might respond, "Really? I think I'd open the door immediately."
Now they're discussing what they would do, why they see the situation differently, and what they expect to happen.
Sometimes the child will be right. Sometimes the adult will be right. Sometimes both will be completely surprised.
That sense of discovery makes the story feel like something they're experiencing together.
Make Room for the Unexpected Moments
Adults sometimes feel pressure to keep children focused on finishing a story.
But one of the pleasures of reading together is allowing a little room for the conversation to wander.
Perhaps a character in the book has an unusual pet, and the child begins describing the imaginary animal they'd like to own. A scene involving a treehouse reminds Grandpa of one he tried to build when he was young. A story about exploring the ocean leads to a conversation about whether either of them would be brave enough to swim near a shark.
These detours can become some of the most memorable parts of reading together.
They allow children to connect what they're reading with their own experiences, interests, and imagination. They also give adults opportunities to share personal memories and stories that children might not otherwise hear.
There's no need to interrupt every page with a question or turn the experience into a reading lesson.
Sometimes the best response is simply to follow the child's curiosity.
If a particular illustration makes them laugh, enjoy the joke together. If they want to spend a few minutes debating what a character should do, let the conversation unfold.
The purpose isn't necessarily to finish as many books as possible.
It's to enjoy the time spent sharing them.
How Bailey & Beau Co. Makes Reading Together Easier
For families who want to make shared reading a regular part of their lives, finding the right story is only one piece of the puzzle.
There's also the practical challenge of making sure both people can follow along without constantly adjusting cameras, holding up books, or figuring out which page they're on.
We created the Bailey & Beau Co. Reading Room with those challenges in mind.
The Reading Room is designed for children ages 5–9 and the adults who love them, giving families a shared online space to experience stories together from different locations.
Instead of one person struggling to show a book through a camera, both participants can view the same story pages during their session. The shared reading experience allows families to focus on what they're discovering together rather than the mechanics of displaying the book.
The stories are also created with shared participation in mind.
A surprising discovery might encourage a child and adult to make different predictions. An unusual character could inspire a funny conversation. A mystery may give both readers an opportunity to notice clues and explain what they think is happening.
The experience isn't about having children click buttons to make a story move forward.
It's about creating moments that encourage two people to talk, imagine, laugh, and think together.
Each session is designed around approximately twenty minutes of shared time, making it possible for families to enjoy a meaningful reading experience without needing to set aside an entire afternoon.
A grandparent can join from another state. A traveling parent can connect from a hotel room. An aunt or uncle can share a story with a child they don't get to see as often as they'd like.
And when the story ends, they have something new to talk about the next time they connect.
Turn Shared Reading Into a Family Tradition
One of the loveliest things about reading together online is that it can become a familiar part of family life.
A grandfather and granddaughter might share a story every Sunday afternoon. A parent who travels frequently could make Wednesday evening their special reading time. Cousins who live in different states might read together on Saturday mornings.
The ritual doesn't need to be elaborate.
What matters is that everyone begins to recognize it as time they share.
Children may start thinking about which story they want to read next or remembering something funny from the previous week. An adult might discover that the child particularly enjoys mysteries, silly characters, or stories about animals.
Over time, those preferences become part of the relationship.
Grandma knows her grandson loves trying to solve puzzles before the characters do. Dad knows his daughter will invent a ridiculous voice for every new creature they meet. An aunt knows her niece always notices the tiny details hidden in illustrations.
These are the kinds of things family members learn about one another through repeated shared experiences.
And they're often the details that make relationships feel personal.
If you're looking for other ways to create that consistency, our articles The Best Weekly Rituals for Long-Distance Families and Creative Family Traditions You Can Keep From Anywhere explore how small, recurring activities can become meaningful traditions.
What If a Child Doesn't Want to Read That Day?
Even children who enjoy books won't always be in the mood for storytime.
A child might be tired, distracted, excited about something else, or simply more interested in talking about what happened at school.
That's normal.
When families live apart, it can be tempting to feel that every planned call needs to accomplish something. After all, everyone has made time to connect, and adults naturally want that time to feel worthwhile.
But meaningful connection doesn't always follow the plan.
If a child wants to spend ten minutes showing Grandpa a new toy before opening the story, that conversation may be exactly what they need that day.
If they lose interest halfway through a book, it may be better to stop and continue another time than to insist on finishing.
Sometimes an activity that begins as storytime will turn into a conversation, a silly game, or an entirely different adventure.
That's part of spending time together.
The story is there to support the relationship, not become another responsibility.
And when families approach reading with that flexibility, children may be more likely to associate the experience with enjoyment rather than obligation.
Twenty Minutes Can Be More Meaningful Than You Think
Families sometimes worry that a short online visit isn't enough to maintain a close relationship.
But the value of shared time isn't determined entirely by its length.
Consider the difference between a twenty-minute call spent asking a child a series of questions and twenty minutes spent exploring a story together.
During the first call, the adult may struggle to keep the conversation going. The child might offer short answers before becoming distracted.
During the second, both people have something to focus on. They may laugh at a character's mistake, disagree about what happens next, or discover something neither expected.
When the call ends, they have a shared memory.
Of course, not every reading session will be extraordinary. Some stories will be more engaging than others, and some days children will be less interested in participating.
But when these experiences happen regularly, they create opportunities for the relationship to grow.
A child doesn't need every conversation to be unforgettable.
They need opportunities to feel known, included, and connected to the people who care about them.
Sometimes twenty minutes with the right story and the right person can provide exactly that.
The Story Is Only the Beginning
When families live in different homes, sharing ordinary experiences can require a little more intention.
You can't always curl up on the same couch, turn the pages of the same physical book, or glance over to see the expression on someone's face when a surprising moment unfolds.
But distance doesn't have to take away the experience of discovering a story together.
A grandmother can still hear her grandson laugh at a ridiculous character. A traveling parent can still listen as a child explains an imaginative theory. An aunt can still discover that her niece notices details everyone else overlooks.
They can still disagree about what happens next, invent silly explanations, and remember the funny moments long after the story is finished.
And perhaps, during the next conversation, one of them will say, "Remember that story we read?"
That simple question says something important.
They didn't just read the same book.
They experienced something together.
And when those shared experiences become part of family life, the miles between two homes begin to matter a little less.