Tea, Tales, and Tomes

• 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.

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• Once Upon A Fright: Halloween Tales for Every Age

  We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. Are you ready to join us for this Halloween literary special? This is your ultimate spooky season reading guide... but as with all things Tea, Tales, and Tomes, this is no ordinary episode. Come sit with us around our glowing campfire as we guide you through spooky books for readers of all ages, from gentle picture books to nightmare-inducing horror classics. We journey from campfire to haunted forest, exploring tales that flicker like lanterns in the darkness.• Little Blue Truck's Halloween and There's a Monster in Your Book offer gentle frights for the tiniest trick-or-treaters• Room on a Broom and The Quacken blend adventure with reassuring messages about friendship and overcoming fears• There's a Ghost in This House and Gustav the Shy Ghost provide slightly spookier tales for young independent readers• Middle-grade adventures like Jumanji, The Skull, and The House with a Clock in Its Walls deliver genuine chills while maintaining age-appropriate boundaries• The Graveyard Book follows Nobody Owens, a boy raised by ghosts, in a tale both chilling and tender• Teen and adult readers can explore Lockwood & Co., Dracula, Thornhill, and Maxwell Dark for genuine literary frightsMay your nights be spooky, your books hauntingly good, and your heart always full of wonder. Happy Halloween!The music and sound effects for this episode is ALL from Pixabay. 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.

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• Climbing Mountains, Literal and Literary: Shareez Bagaria Conquers All

  We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. What if we could teach our children to face life's challenges with resilience, courage, and self-belief? That's exactly what Durban author Shareez Bagaria is doing through her captivating children's book "Luna's Journey" - and she's living these principles herself in the most extraordinary way.Nestled in her warm, inviting home on Women's Day in South Africa, Shareez shares the fascinating journey that led her from being a mother with a background in industrial psychology to becoming both a children's author and a mountain climber with her sights set on conquering the Seven Summits - the highest mountains on each continent.Throughout our conversation, Shareez shares practical wisdom for parents about helping children develop emotional intelligence, handle bullying, and build internal strength through affirmations. She emphasizes the importance of modeling the behaviors we hope to see in our children: "We have to demonstrate that to them."Join us for this inspiring discussion about motherhood, creativity, representation in children's literature, and the extraordinary heights we can reach when we believe in ourselves and take that next step forward – whether on a mountain or in everyday life.Get in touch with Shareez by: Following her on Instagram (@metamorphosis_life_coaching; @lunalearns_2309; and @shareezb). Luna Learns is available wherever good books are sold. 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.

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• Listener voices: Celebrating Season One

  We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. What began as a simple recording on the floor with an inexpensive microphone has blossomed into a literary journey spanning 19 countries and 50 cities worldwide. In this emotional season finale, we pull back the curtain on Tea Tales and Tomes to reveal how a passion for making children's literature accessible transformed into a global conversation about raising readers.The podcast's origin story unfolds as we learn how frustration with North-centric book recommendations and a desire to share hard-earned knowledge became the catalyst for creating this gentle corner of the podcasting world. Despite generating no revenue, this labor of love continues because of a profound belief in the power of stories to shape young minds and create lasting bonds between children and their caregivers.The heart of this episode lies in the voices of our listeners. From podcast editor Timmy suggesting parent-focused reading segments to non-parent listeners who find unexpected resonance in discussions about children's literature, each story affirms the universal appeal of our bookish conversations. Most touching is a listener who shares how her illiterate mother fostered her reading journey through weekly library visits—what she calls "the most beautiful love story" she's experienced.Young readers steal the spotlight as they enthusiastically recommend favorites like "Dinosaur Club," "Lottie Brooks," and "Nevermoor." Their unfiltered excitement reminds us why this podcast exists: to nurture the next generation of book dragons who will grow up understanding that stories are portals to unlimited possibilities.Looking ahead to Season Two, we're preparing author interviews, controversial topics, new segments, and seasonal specials including Halloween-themed episodes. Until then, keep reading, keep sharing stories, and remember that every book opens a door to something magical. What reading journey will you embark on next?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.

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• Creating a Home Book Club Culture: No Homework Required

  We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. Remember the dreaded book report? That school assignment that magically transforms the wonder of reading into a tedious chore? As parents and caregivers, we desperately want our children to fall in love with books, but sometimes our well-intentioned efforts to discuss their reading can feel suspiciously like homework.During our recent winter holidays, I discovered a different path—creating a "book club culture" at home that makes reading communal, exciting, and deeply personal. This episode unveils how simple rituals like blanket picnics with stories, one-on-one coffee dates, and creative documentation methods can transform how your family experiences books.Contrary to what you might think, I don't have perfect little book dragons who spend their days begging for more reading assignments! My children are typical kids who'd rather play video games than analyze symbolism. But when I shifted away from school-style interrogations toward natural conversations over hot chocolate and treats, something magical happened—the books became part of our shared language, our family stories, and our way of processing the world together.The science backs this up too. When children discuss books in relaxed, natural settings, they experience enhanced language development, improved emotional regulation, strengthened neural connections, and increased empathy—all while strengthening family bonds through the release of oxytocin, the attachment hormone.From creating "Book Report Envelope Accordions" that balance light questioning with creative expression to designing reading challenges with prompts like "read a book with a red cover," I'll share practical, tested approaches that have worked wonders in our home. These methods build critical thinking skills and emotional literacy without ever feeling like work.Ready to create a home where books aren't just read but lived in? Subscribe now, and let's build reading families together—one cup of tea and one story at a time. Some websites I mention in this episode: Art for Kids HubLittle School of Smiths Tea, Tales, and Tomes blog 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.

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About Tea, Tales, and Tomes

Tea, Tales, and Tomes: Podcasts in Family