Free web and desktop app for author visits

Virtual Storytime

Built for authors, teachers, and librarians who read picture books online, Virtual Storytime presents picture book PDFs beautifully during virtual author visits and classes.

What it does Use it on the web Download desktop app

What it does

Built for live picture book readings

Load a picture book PDF, share your screen, and keep the reading moving with the tools you need right in the presentation window.

A preview of Virtual Storytime in presentation mode.

Download the desktop app

You can use Virtual Storytime on the web without installing anything. Download the desktop app if you want a dedicated presentation window with no browser toolbar or tabs taking up space.

Download for Mac (Apple Silicon) ~110 MB

Most Macs from 2020 on use Apple Silicon. Have an older Intel Mac? Download the Intel version.

Other downloads

Need a different installer? The full list is here.

macOS

Mac (Apple Silicon)

For most Macs from 2020 on: M1, M2, M3, or M4.

Download ~110 MB
macOS

Mac (Intel)

For older Macs where About This Mac shows a Processor line that says Intel.

Download ~117 MB
Windows

Windows x64

For current Windows laptops and desktops.

Download ~94 MB

Why are the install steps a little weird?

Virtual Storytime is a free app from an independent creator, so it is not notarized by Apple or signed with a Windows code-signing certificate.

On macOS, that means the first launch can be blocked with a message that Apple could not verify the app is free of malware. On Windows, SmartScreen may ask you to confirm before running it.

The steps below are the one-time approval flow for apps installed outside the App Store or Microsoft Store. Once you approve it, Virtual Storytime opens normally.

Install steps

You only have to do this once. After that, Virtual Storytime opens normally.

macOS DMG installer
  1. Download the Mac version that matches your computer, then double-click the downloaded .dmg.
    • Apple Silicon (most Macs from 2020 on—About This Mac shows a "Chip" line like "Apple M1/M2/M3"): Virtual-Storytime-mac-apple-silicon.dmg
    • Intel (older Macs—About This Mac shows a "Processor" line that says Intel): Virtual-Storytime-mac-intel.dmg

    Not sure which you have? Click the Apple menu → About This Mac. If this page picked Apple Silicon for you, that's the best default for most newer Macs; the Intel download is still above if you need it.

  2. In the window that opens, drag the Virtual Storytime icon onto the Applications folder.
  3. Open your Applications folder and double-click Virtual Storytime.
  4. You'll see a message that says "Apple could not verify 'Virtual Storytime' is free of malware...". Click Done (do not click "Move to Trash").
  5. Open the Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security.
  6. Scroll down to the Security section. You'll see a line that says "Virtual Storytime was blocked..." with an Open Anyway button next to it. Click Open Anyway.
  7. Confirm with Open Anyway again, and enter your Mac password or Touch ID if asked. The app opens—and from now on it opens with a normal double-click.

Prefer a one-step shortcut? Open the Terminal app and paste this, then press Return:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine "/Applications/Virtual Storytime.app"

Note: On older macOS (Sonoma 14 and earlier) you can instead right-click the app → Open → Open. On macOS Sequoia (15) and macOS 26 and later, use the System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway steps above.

Windows EXE installer
  1. Download Virtual-Storytime-windows.exe and double-click it.
  2. Windows may show a blue "Windows protected your PC" box.
  3. Click the small More info link.
  4. Click the Run anyway button that appears.
  5. The installer runs and Virtual Storytime opens. You won't see this warning again.

If your browser warns that the file "isn't commonly downloaded," choose Keep / Keep anyway to finish the download.