Tea, Tales, and Tomes

A 2025 Reading Wrap: The Books That Held Me (and the One That Didn’t):

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. The mic failed, the tea was hot, and the books were unforgettable. Come sit down with us as we reflect on a noisy 2025 and the stories that stayed: a Kyoto restaurant that recreates lost flavours to unlock memory, a graphic novel that treats young readers with uncommon respect, a middle grade marvel that made our whole family laugh and cry, a picture book that blooms like a botanical secret, and a nonfiction gem that turns lake lore into living curiosity.Not every pick landed. We unpack why a widely recommended fantasy for children failed our suitability test and talk frankly about choosing books with care: age-appropriate, safe, respectful. Then we look ahead to 2026: kids discovering the Warriors series on their own terms, family drives with The Mysterious Benedict Society, and a small, thoughtful adult book club starting with Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. Expect new segments, author conversations, and episodes that ask brave, necessary questions about how stories are made and how they shape us.If these conversations light you up, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a good read, and leave a review to help more bookish people find us. What was your standout read of 2025?Find us on Instagram @teatalesandtomes and don't forget to join us next time for more bookish wonder. Podcast music by Lundstroem (Episode 1 onwards) and Audionautix (TTAT Trailer). Podcast edited by Timothy Wiggill.

What Not To Buy: Christmas Bookish Edition

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. The shops are shouting buy more, but we’re making a different case: skip the shiny book junk and choose stories that actually get read. Come with me and walk through the holiday aisles together and call out the biggest traps - gimmicky bundles, flimsy movie tie-ins, lazy age-badged anthologies and swap them for books with staying power and more meaningful bookish gifts.If you’re craving ease over excess, you’re in good company here.A few things we touch on today: • skipping gimmicky bundles that add plastic, not story• steering clear of movie tie-ins and lazy anthologies• smarter alternatives for middle grade and seasonal reads• age-appropriate comics and graphic novels that land• choosing engaging, well-designed nonfiction over coffee-table tomes• why annuals and activity books are risky gifts unless you know the child• ditching weak booklights for practical, lasting accessories• tech picks that stretch budgets: subscriptions, audiobooks, headphones• how to gift adults without awkward self-help misfires• choosing a slower, calmer Christmas that puts people before purchasesFeel free to DM me on Instagram for recommendations because recommending books to you will be like giving me a gift this Christmas. Find us on Instagram @teatalesandtomes and don't forget to join us next time for more bookish wonder. Podcast music by Lundstroem (Episode 1 onwards) and Audionautix (TTAT Trailer). Podcast edited by Timothy Wiggill.

A Bookish Advent: Build A Calm, Joyful Countdown With Stories, Not Stress

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. The season can sparkle and still feel heavy. Between perfect social media feeds, school concerts, late shopping and burnt biscuits, it’s easy to forget why we gather at all. We offer a simple reset: a bookish Advent calendar that replaces pressure with presence and turns December into a series of small, meaningful pauses.We start with the heart of the tradition and why letting go of perfection creates space for real joy. Then we walk through five clear steps to build your own countdown and also share practical tips to keep it effortless. By the end, you’ll have a flexible plan that meets your pace and deepens your family rhythm.If you’re ready to count down with stories instead of stress, press play, build your stack, and make the season yours. Subscribe for more bookish rituals, share this with a friend who needs a calmer December, and leave a review to help others find the show.Find us on Instagram @teatalesandtomes and don't forget to join us next time for more bookish wonder. Podcast music by Lundstroem (Episode 1 onwards) and Audionautix (TTAT Trailer). Podcast edited by Timothy Wiggill.

Go Textless: How Wordless Picture Books Build Language, Empathy, And Imagination

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. What if I told you that you don't need text to raise a reader? What if the most powerful reading practice for growing language, empathy, and imagination uses no words at all? In today's epsisode, we welcome a wave of new listeners, tip our mugs to the Halloween specials that sparked it, and then head straight into the quiet magic of wordless picture books... books in which your child’s voice becomes the narrator and every page turn invites a new possibility.I will speak about the science of wordless books, share a personal story, get into the nitty-gritty of actually "reading" wordless books, and lastly share a list of the best tried and tested wordless books for all ages. Ready to read the pictures and hear what your child has to say? Press play, save the book list from the blog or Instagram, and share this episode with a friend who loves stories. If this resonated, follow the show, leave a quick review, and tell us which wordless book you’ll start with. Your recommendations help our community grow.Find us on Instagram @teatalesandtomes and don't forget to join us next time for more bookish wonder. Podcast music by Lundstroem (Episode 1 onwards) and Audionautix (TTAT Trailer). Podcast edited by Timothy Wiggill.

Why Kids Love Spooky Stories: Science, Childhood, and Joy

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. I've been getting some flack about my obsession with all things spooky this season and I totally get why some of us steer clear of the scary, the unusual, or anything that might feel like we are going against our faiths and beliefs.So today, I am diving into the science and soul of spooky season - how safe fear lights up the brain, teaches emotional regulation, and gives kids (and grown-ups) a surprising edge in real-life resilience. From South African springtime reflections to the glow of American Halloween lore, we share a personal journey that begins with a battered copy of Dracula and the sting of shame that followed, then turn that experience into a playbook for parents who want to keep curiosity intact without sacrificing sleep.If you’re wondering how to navigate scary stories at home, we offer a clear, compassionate toolkit: pair fear with comfort (lights on, cocoa ready), guide rather than forbid, calibrate the “spice level,” and debrief after tough themes to turn shivers into skills. Match content to temperament, not nostalgia, and keep shame out of the room so curiosity can do its good work. By the end, you’ll see Halloween and haunted pages as cosy laboratories for courage and imagination and not moral tests... humane tools for making sense of the unknown.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves a cozy fright, and leave a quick review to help more bookish friends find us. Find us on Instagram @teatalesandtomes and don't forget to join us next time for more bookish wonder. Podcast music by Lundstroem (Episode 1 onwards) and Audionautix (TTAT Trailer). Podcast edited by Timothy Wiggill.