Why do we add audio to our storybooks?

Why is the audio element of our storybooks so important to us..🎧

As a parent you want the best for your children. You want them to thrive, taking in all that they see in the world, be it good, bad or indifferent, process it and come to their own conclusions over time. You want them to comprehend life in all of its beauty and harshness and make the most of everyday.  You want them to feel connected with nature as you know there’s a multitude of benefits encased within that lifelong relationship that you hold so precious. Well I do anyway and I’m sure I’m not alone in this..

Also, I’m the kind of parent, that when I see in my child’s development a leaning, or a preference to learning that is different from my own, I’m happy to explore and accommodate as best I can in order to help. I experienced this firsthand, when my son showed signs from a young age that he wasn’t keen on reading. So I made a point of encouraging him into the world of literacy with audiobooks, and we never looked back!

He used to listen to the stories, enjoying the sounds, and sometimes follow along with his finger on the words. This became ‘his thing’ and soon he loved learning in this way and many times I joined him and we’d listen together. We used to go the library regularly too, where he’d pick a few more audio books after scanning the covers carefully. It was always good to get the written words as well, so that if he chose to he could read along and follow the text. I recall one of his favourites was ‘An Eagle in the Snow’ by Michael Morpurgo.

Fast-forward a number of years into our journey here at Tales from Mother Earth

…and once again it made sense to include the audio element in our content. Now, we pride ourselves in knowing that a huge variety of children young and old, with different learning abilities and understanding for their ages, including SEND children can all access of our work.  We want our storybooks to be accessible to children on many levels, and that’s why we have packed so much into the content.  Children love making friends with our realistic characters who in nature really do need our help, and they love to participate by learning those all important conservation messages and tips that can, and do make a difference. This all culminates in the physical content that can be seen within the pages, and also the audio elements of our books that combine to create a powerful and fun learning resource. So regarding the later, yes we see it as an integral part of our young readers experience, so much so, that typically we like to produce four tracks to accompany every one of our storybooks and we would encourage this to remain in our future titles.

  1. Full story narrated by Mother Earth and/or other storybook characters
  2. Full story read along – as above with page turning sound bites so children can learn to read with our content
  3. Story character’s theme music – specific theme music that backs the individual stories
  4. Mother Earth’s Theme – our beautiful signature piece of music

What the experts say..

I’ve known from past experience and seeing my son thrive that audiobooks are great, but now I’ve also found evidence to back this. In fact the internet is a wash with experts confessing the benefits of audiobooks for children which is wonderful to see. I particularly liked this article which was published recently on the Starglow Community website a purposeful parenting community. They have looked into this topic further and have consulted experts and teachers alike. By doing this, they’ve discovered 18 compelling, research-backed reasons why audiobooks can play a powerful role in a child’s education, imagination, and overall well-being. I’m adding the list below, but please take a moment to study their website for the details on each of these points that you’ll find on this page here.

  1. Boosts Vocabulary Development

  2. Improves Listening Comprehension

  3. Encourages Reluctant Readers

  4. Promotes a Love for Stories and Learning

  5. Supports Bilingual and ESL Learners

  6. Builds Critical Thinking Skills

  7. Improves Focus and Attention Span

  8. Enhances Pronunciation and Fluency

  9. Makes Reading a Shared Experience

  10. Provides Access to Advanced Texts

  11. Helps Children with Visual Impairments

  12. Encourages Multitasking with Learning

  13. Reduces Screen Time

  14. Strengthens Emotional Intelligence

  15. Improves Sleep Quality with Bedtime Listening

  16. Reinforces Classroom Learning

  17. Expands Cultural Awareness

  18. Fosters Independence and Self-Confidence

From looking at some of the research available on this subject, audiobooks are a powerful, enriching tool for children of all ages. We now know that they support a child’s academic growth, emotional development and overall love of stories – even if they are reluctant readers like my son, or have learning difficulties, it’s clear audiobooks have a valuable part to play in our brand.

Without doubt they’re a smart, research supported addition to any child’s learning, and rest assured we will continue to produce them for our storybooks here at Tales from Mother Earth.  🦔🐝💦🌲🐞💚🎧

 

 

 

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Introducing our storybook ‘Sitka Spruce the Amazing Timber Tree’ in Welsh!

NEW storybook ‘Sitka Spruce the Amazing Timber Tree’ in Welsh!

Tales from Mother Earth is delighted to announce the launch of Sbriwsen Sitka – y Goeden Bren Ryfeddol, the Welsh translation of Sitka Spruce the Amazing Timber Tree! This is our very first children’s audio/picture storybook produced in another language—and it’s now being sent out to all 1,277 primary schools in Wales, in both Welsh and English. This means that teachers can begin to build bilingual language lesson plans around the story in time for the new school year.

The Welsh version of the storybook was launched at WoodBUILD25, an annual two-day conference for the timber industry, held this year on 3–4 June in Llandudno. Organised by Woodknowledge Wales, the event brings together timber and construction stakeholders to collaborate, innovate and drive meaningful change. The conference proved to be the perfect setting for the book launch. To much applause, Gary Newman, CEO of Woodknowledge Wales, presented Sbriwsen Sitka to a room packed with interest during the celebration dinner.

“We’re thrilled to support the Welsh-language launch of Sitka Spruce the Amazing Timber Tree. It’s a wonderful example of how storytelling can spark curiosity in children about the natural world and the vital role timber plays in our lives. By reaching every primary school in Wales, this bilingual storybook helps us grow a future generation that values forests, materials and sustainability – in both Welsh and English.” Gary Newman, CEO, Woodknowledge Wales

Together with Morgan Sindall Construction and other enthusiastic partners, Woodknowledge Wales was instrumental in helping us develop the original English version of Sitka Spruce the Amazing Timber Tree in 2024—and now they’ve helped bring the Welsh version to life.

New Production Requirement

Translating a book into a language we don’t personally speak is a huge act of trust. Fortunately, we worked closely with the expert team at Cymen, who provided a wonderful Welsh translation that perfectly captured our words, passion, and tone. This care and attention extended to the supporting resources too, such as our newly created Welsh crossword puzzle, which was thoroughly checked and approved.

Because our books have a strong audio element, it was vital to find two talented Welsh speakers to bring the characters of Mother Earth and Sitka to life. That’s where tinint, a production and broadcast company based in Wales, stepped in. Their casting and production work brought just the right warmth, friendliness and energy to match the original English voices.

Our sincere thanks go to the brilliant team at Woodknowledge Wales for overseeing this development—what a great collaboration it has been!

Available now from our website shop

 

 

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Have Children Lost the Art of Playing Outside?

Guest Blog by Georgie McIntyre – Avant Consultancy Ltd, where she explores whether or not children have lost the art of playing outside and the importance of this.

 

   

Not long ago, childhood meant grazed knees, muddy hands, and imaginations fuelled by nothing but the natural world. These days, I often wonder if children have lost the art of playing outside.

For many of us, the answer feels uncomfortable. The pull of screens, tightly packed schedules, and growing worries about safety have shifted the shape of childhood. But quietly, gently, there’s a movement rekindling our children’s connection with the world around them. And Tales from Mother Earth is one of its brightest sparks.

Founded by the passionate and brilliant Jenny Bailey, Tales from Mother Earth is an eco-publishing company producing beautiful, immersive storybooks told through the voice of Mother Earth herself. Their mission? To ignite the conservationist in all of us, especially children, through the simple yet powerful medium of storytelling.

Their philosophy is simple yet impactful:

“Let’s teach our kids what they can do to look after the wildlife that needs help today and improve our children’s mental health at the same time, whilst they listen and engage with a story that touches their hearts, connecting them with nature in the most positive of ways.”

And they do exactly that, through engaging, emotionally relatable storytelling for children aged 3–10.

I had the joy of interviewing Jenny last year and was struck by her authenticity, drive, and belief in this work. She’s a mother to a neurodivergent child, and her passion for accessible, real-world education shines through everything she does. Her approach is storytelling with heart and purpose. It’s about giving children the tools to care, the language to understand, and the belief that they can make a difference.

Tales from Mother Earth’s Storybooks

In just four short years, they’ve brought to life a collection of characters that children adore and provide real-world learning:

🐝 Meet Phoebe the Bee – a hardworking little bee who could be any of the busy pollinators in your garden. Phoebe bravely tries to save her family and hive. Through Phoebe’s story, children learn how vital bees are to our ecosystems and what simple actions they can take to help.

🦔 Meet Spike the Hedgehog – a brave young hedgehog on a journey to find a safe new home. Spike could be the next prickly friend you discover rustling through your garden at dusk. His story encourages children to think about how small changes to our habits and spaces can help protect this much-loved mammal.

🌊 Meet Stanley the Water Vole – a curious riverbank explorer who suddenly notices strange new visitors… pieces of plastic falling from the sky and polluting his beloved waterway. Stanley’s story gently explores the impact of plastic waste on wildlife while showing children they can be part of the solution.

🌲 Meet Sitka the Spruce, the Amazing Timber Tree – a story that celebrates the qualities of timber, particularly the Sitka Spruce, the tree of choice across the UK’s timber industry. (Commissioned by Morgan Sindall), this book teaches children about sustainable forestry and how timber can be reused within the built environment.

🌼 Journey to the Green Roof – commissioned by the GRO (Green Roof Organisation),  We meet Freya, a hairy-footed flower bee, and Sarah, a European seven-spotted ladybird, each swept up in their own unexpected adventure. This story explores the incredible biodiversity benefits of green roofs. As the day unfolds, everything changes for them in ways they never imagined, but both come to the same heartfelt conclusion that every roof should be green.

Each book is designed to educate and inspire without fear or anxiety, helping children see that everyone can do something. And they’re not just learning about nature; the books help to build emotional connection, empathy and a sense of responsibility.

What I love most is that these stories go beyond the facts. They nurture empathy, curiosity, and care. They connect young minds to the real world around them, encouraging questions. That matters. Especially when we know that time spent in nature benefits children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. Research shows that taking children out supports creativity, improves immunity, reduces anxiety, and helps young children feel more grounded. It’s a natural reset to any climate anxiety a child may be experiencing. A reminder that everyone can do something.

Whether it’s through Forest School, outdoor education, or just having the freedom to get muddy, children need time outside. And when that experience is woven with kindness, storytelling, and purpose, it becomes even more powerful.

The research backs it up……

Outdoor play has enormous benefits for children across every aspect of their development:

Physical health

Outdoor play supports improved fitness, coordination, and stamina. Children who spend more time outside are more physically active and less likely to become overweight (NI Direct, 2024). Natural sunlight also supports healthy vitamin D production, which is vital for bone growth and overall wellbeing.

“Children who engage in outdoor play exhibit improved physical fitness, agility, and stamina.”

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Green spaces have been shown to reduce stress and improve children’s mood, sleep, and attention span. Spending time in nature has a calming effect, reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Outdoor play allows children to explore and take risks, fostering a sense of accomplishment and boosting self-esteem. According to the Children & Nature Network,

“Exposure to green environments significantly reduces symptoms of ADHD and improves attention in young people.”

Social and emotional development

Outdoor environments allow children to connect, play collaboratively, take risks, and build resilience. Nature play stimulates creativity and imagination, allowing children to invent their own activities. As highlighted in Child Mind Institute research:

“Children’s emotional regulation improves dramatically after just 20 minutes of outdoor, unstructured play.”

Cognitive development

Nature is an influential teacher. Exploring natural environments encourages creativity, problem-solving, and curiosity. Time outdoors has been linked to improved learning outcomes and stronger focus back in the classroom.

“Children who spend more time in nature have shown improved cognitive skills and better attention spans.” (Psychology Today, 2023)

Tales from Mother Earth champion these opportunities through gentle and grounded storytelling, it reconnects children with the world around them. It invites them to play, go outside, care, and understand that they are part of something bigger and that they can make a difference.

If you’re a parent, teacher, carer, or simply someone who wants to see children flourish, I encourage you to explore their work. You can find their storybooks here: https://talesfrommotherearth.co.uk/shop.

Let’s bring back the mud, the wonder, and the wild. Let’s help our children rediscover the art of playing outside and show them, through story and nature, just how much they matter in this world.

Georgie is the founder of Avant Consultancy Ltd, who supports Tales from Mother Earth and organisations who want to grow, scale or evolve, without losing sight of who they are and are values led. You can follow Georgie on https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiemcintyre/ for more of her insights or DM if you are interested in her support.

 

References:

  • NI Direct (2024). Playing outdoors: The benefits for children. Available at: www.nidirect.gov.uk
  • Child Mind Institute (2023). Why kids need to spend time in nature. Available at: www.childmind.org
  • Children & Nature Network (2021). Research: Green settings and ADHD. Available at: www.childrenandnature.org
  • Psychology Today (2023). All kids need time in nature – and the planet needs that too. Available at: www.psychologytoday.com

 

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Let’s Get our Kids Colouring!

But why is it so important and why do we include it in every storybook..

 

In every one of our storybooks we always have a colouring picture page, and this includes our commissions There is a very good reason behind this.

As a parent I understand the desire most children have to paint and colour in images, or create their own and draw. The need to build a picture is strong, keeping in the lines with pens/pencils of all colours is truly wonderful for creativity and development, as is experimenting with shading and learning that anything goes!  Also from our storybook and character point of view, it allows a child to further enhance their bond with our animal characters,  Phoebe, Spike, Stanley, Sarah, Freya and of course Sitka, as time would be taken by committing to the task of colouring/drawing and the end result would quite possibly end up on a wall somewhere for them to show off proudly!

For us the colouring picture does all of this and more as it underlines the message throughout the story and gives the child a moment to relax and consider our character in more detail consciously or even sub-consciously.  So from a general point of view I was aware how beneficial the simple act of colouring was, with regards to developing fine motor skills, enhancing focus and concentration and boosting creativity and self expression etc, but when you look at the science behind those benefits, the list increases substantially. So let’s encourage our little readers to get further creative any time they wish and get colouring more with love – just like these children have!

To view all of our storybooks that come complete with their colouring pages, please follow this link to our shop!

 

                                                     

 

Lets take a look at some of those benefits..

Here’s a more detailed look at the advantages of colouring:

  • Fine Motor Skills: the act of colouring enables children develop the small muscle coordination needed for tasks like writing and drawing
  • Hand-Eye Coordination: this is strengthened immensely just by holding holding a crayon/pencil and colouring within lines
  • Focus and Concentration: when children colour they stay engaged on a task, and this action teaches young minds to focus, which is beneficial for school readiness. Also it teaches them the art of patience and perseverance as completing a colouring task can take time
  • Creativity and Self-Expression: imaginations are explored and children can learn to express themselves with their creativity
  • Color Recognition and Learning: the act of colouring exposes children to different hues and colours, helping them to learn to identify and differentiate them
  • Relaxation and Stress Relief: repetitive nature of coloring is calming and helps children relax more – reducing stress
  • Language Development: when discussing the colors and shapes, new vocabulary can be used to encourage communication and further understanding
  • Self-Esteem and Confidence:  a sense of accomplishment is often achieved by a child when completing a colouring page and this boosts their self-esteem
  • Mindfulness: a meditative state can be induced by the repetitive and calming nature of coloring , enabling children to relax and focus on the present moment
  • Advancement in academic performance: the skills and cognitive abilities involved in colouring provides a great foundation for further academic achievement and performance in the future

References

Colour Psychology – benefits of colouring pages for kids

Neuro Launch – Child Psychology and Colour How Hues Influence Young Minds

Centre of Excellence – 7 Benefits of Colouring for Mental Health and Mindfulness

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Why Stanley the Water Vole?

Why Stanley? What’s in a name?

The name Stanley fitted our image and character of a water vole perfectly, and so the story was written with his name fixed and in place right from the start. In fact every character name chosen for our storybooks is crucially important to me, and sometimes I conduct a buzz test to see what sounds the best!

Other times, I share my thoughts and we bounce some names around, but for Stanley I loved him from the start and it’s a joy to know that many children and adults do too.

 

Why a water vole?

Water voles are important in our environment as they are mini ecosystem engineers, rather like beavers but on a smaller scale,  and they contribute greatly to healthy river ecology. They are the largest of the vole family in our country and have an exceptionally wide appetite of vegetation. In fact scientists discovered when studying a vole’s nest by random, that one single vole had approximately 182 different plants and berries in it’s larder already stocked away for the colder months ahead – just like in Stanley’s story. For more information on water voles check out these details from the Kent Wildlife Trust. 

Water voles are sadly in decline, and are listed as endangered on both the Great Britain and the England Red List for Mammals. Population in GB is around 132,000 and they have undergone one of the most serious declines of any mammal in Britain. With one of the reasons for their decline being habitat loss and water pollution, the marriage between our Stanley and the plastic litter issue was sealed.

We wanted children to understand the connection between the two and that by disposing of litter properly would allow for cleaner environments especially in or by the water where Stanley and his friends live. So our storybook details this issue precisely and introduces children to a wild animal, and one who doesn’t like people coming near his home as it scares him. He, as in Stanley doesn’t understand that the humans are there to ultimately help and clean up the environment. So our storybook teaches children how our waterways can be impacted by plastic pollution and how our wildlife suffers as a result of people’s careless actions, and of course what we can all do to help in this situation.

Litter Champions and Stanley!

Stanley has been instrumental in creating many litter champions and environmental warriors around the country throughout schools.  Lots of organisations continue to use his resources and storybook to highlight the message of litter, plastic and engage children with our various fun activities, for instance, teaching them how long plastic can be sitting in our environment prior to it breaking down into microplastics and what that means for biodiversity and us too.

Contact me directly if you’d like more information regarding our workshop resources jenny@talesfrommotherearth.co.uk

Children get it!! 

Children really understand the message and when I run our workshops, the kids are eager to act responsibly and get litter disposed of correctly which is so heartwarming. The message within our Stanley also touches on recycling, waste and the circular economy all important subjects for young minds to understand.

It’s a joy to see children engage with our storybook Stanley the Water Vole, and judging from the comments and feedback we get, I know they’ll never look at crisp packets the same again!

 

 

To purchase your copy of Stanley the Water Vole and see some of our other children’s titles, please go to https://talesfrommotherearth.co.uk/shopwhere-you-can-purchase-our-childrens-audio-picture-storybooks/

All storybooks now with QR code for downloading our audio tracks x4

 

 

 

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Children’s Storybooks on Conservation of Nature

Children’s Storybooks on Conservation of Nature – within 4 short years Tales from Mother Earth has now produced 5 audio/picture storybooks – including 2 commissions covering this exact subject that are all available at https://talesfrommotherearth.co.uk/shop/

  1. Phoebe the Bee – teaching children how important bees are and what we can do to help them
  2. Spike the Hedgehog – teaching children to be more hedgehog aware and help the nation’s favourite mammal
  3. Stanley the Water Vole – teaching children how our waterways can be impacted by plastic pollution and how our wildlife suffers as a result of people’s careless actions, and of course what we can all do to help in this situation
  4. Journey to the Green Roof – commissioned 2023 by the GRO Green Roof Organisation – teaching children the importance of green roofs and what they can give to biodiversity
  5. Sitka the Amazing Timber Tree – commissioned 2024 by Morgan Sindall – teaching children to think about timber in a whole new light! Sitka Spruce is the timber tree of choice throughout the UK and it’s one of the best resources in the world!

For us…

its all about connecting children with nature and that’s why we started Tales from Mother Earth. We want to halt the disconnect that is happening and play our part in engaging children by teaching young minds that they can make such a positive difference in the world and help the animals that are in trouble today. We do this through our realistic audio/picture storybooks narrated by Mother Earth that are designed to ignite the conservationist in all of us, especially children.

So much work to do in this space..

We find its all about positive education in action, and we’re thrilled to be working with some wonderful individuals and organisations who are making a difference.

Tales from Mother Earth producing Children’s Storybooks on Conservation of Nature Supported by British Wildlife Centre

Perfect for children – great learning resources!

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Author Jenny Bailey on bringing green roofs to children

The Green Roof Organisation partners with children’s author, Jenny Bailey to encourage childhood engagement with nature.
In celebration of World Green Roof Day (6 June), The Green Roof Organisation (GRO) has partnered with children’s author and nature enthusiast Jenny Bailey to release ‘Journey to the Green Roof’, an interactive children’s book, to inspire nature engagement from an early age. See the complete article here

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The Green Roof Organisation’s children’s storybook with Tales from Mother Earth

Journey to the Green Roof

This article explores our audio/picture storybook ‘Journey to the Green Roof ‘ and why we were inspired to collaborate with the Green Roof Organisation (GRO) to produce it.

Believing that every roof should be green, we wanted to inspire children to think about green roofs and understand the benefits this type of structure can have to biodiversity and the environment. Green roofs are becoming more common in our towns and cities, so it seems only right we should inform children of how wonderful they are. See the complete article here

To purchase your very own copy of ‘Journey to the Green Roof’ please link through to our shop here

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Transform our World Youth Summit 2022

Recently we took part in the Transform our World Youth Summit 2022 and shared a live Stanley the Water Vole session with hundreds of children across the country and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the event so special.
See the complete article here

Unfortunately, there was an issue with the sound at the start of this video, please bear with us, it kicks in after a few minutes, and before the story starts. Please enjoy the subtitles and BSL in the mean time!
 

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Bring on the mud!!

What Children Really NEED!

As a mother with an autistic child, our co-founder Jenny Bailey is delighted to share this.

“This is so wonderful and really it confirms what we already know. Children NEED the outside and the freedom to explore. Thank you Svetlana Robertson for allowing us to share and for writing a thought provoking and fabulous piece. Bring on the mud!!”

NO YOU DON’T NEED A SENSORY BEDROOM for your child. Seriously, you don’t.

Diagnosed or suspected autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, behaviour issues and so on. What a great business selling all sorts of ‘special’ things to frustrated parents. ‘Special needs toys’, ‘sensory toys’ are advertised almost like a prescription kind of thing.

Guess what – a bedroom is where your child needs to wind down, rest and sleep. It’s not a disco, nor is it a gadget shop. None of those bells and whistles or flashing lights are needed either for sleep or during the day, and will be overstimulating. You might even find that your child’s sleep improves when you got rid of all those.

Well, OK, you can keep one lamp with a red bulb – there’s some evidence that red light might be helpful to wind down at bedtime.

You do want the best for your child. I have seen many mums showing off their latest version of ‘the sensory room’ – and even more mums saying they are jealous that they can’t do this kind of thing due to lack of space or not being able to afford all the shiny stuff.

This shiny stuff is being sold as a substitute for how to feel like a good parent. Making you feel happy for a moment or two, thinking that now you bought the latest shiny object, you have done the best for your child.

And yet, quite the opposite is true. Your child does not need all those latest tech gadgets, shiny and loud bells and whistles. By the way, he or she doesn’t really need Spiderman/Elsa curtains either. You can throw the ready made plastic tent out, too.

How did society ever survive just a few years ago without all those things?

What your child needs is feeling safe, play, interaction, movement and nature. All the real things. Those with additional needs and various struggles, need that even more. Not be kept in the ‘sensory room’ with hundreds of toys, flashlights, sensory lamps and other weird ‘sensory’ gadgets. This stuff does give a boost – to the economy of those countries where it is cheaply produced. Not to your child’s development.

The brain changes and develops in response to the environment it is in – the kind of environment you create, will create a brain and a child matching that environment.

If you really want to boost your child’s brain development – there are better things, and they are free. Long walks in nature whatever the weather, playing in the mud. Yes. Mud. Very sensory enriching and completely free.

Written by Svetlana Robertson, BSc (Hons) Psychology, Child Neurodevelopment Consultant
email: svetlana@svetlanarobertson.com
facebook.com/thesvetlanarobertson

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