Immerse yourself in captivating short stories

Born from spontaneous bedtime recordings for my son, Jonathan’s Tales  now across four volumes is a heart warming collection of 40 modern morality fables rooted in the traditions of Aesop's Fables and Hans Christian Andersen. Through charming binary pairings like The Parrot and the Woodpecker, these standalone stories gently teach children the power of friendship, the importance  of honesty and forgiveness,  that diversity is a celebration, change is an opportunity, and kindness always wins.

The stories also serve as a powerful educational resource and English-language learning tool, featuring more than 1,500 idioms, sayings, and real-world facts skilfully woven into the narrative. Each is clearly explained in a comprehensive glossary of notations at the end of the book.

Scroll down to see the collection and for an insight/ resume of  four of  the tales click on 'My Books' in the header for more information. 

Feel free to send me a message about absolutely anything by submitting the form below.   Signed copies on request, see 'Bookshop' in header above..

 

 

 

 

     

     

     

    The four collections

    Each anthology offers a unique journey through vivid characters, unexpected twists, and thoughtful narratives. Told originally verbally to my six-year old son for entertainment they developed into a treasure trove of1500 educational idioms and facts.  Browse through the published works below.

    Volume One: 11 Magical Bedtime Stories

    CONTENTS  

    • The Dragon and the Window
    • The Toilet and the Toothbrush
    • The Butterfly and the Turtle
    • The Water and the Ice
    • The Elf and the Watch
    • The Rock and the Balloon
    • The Snowflake and the Rock
    • The Pig and the Egg
    • The Frog and the Potato
    • The Squirrel and the Fish
    • The Hammer and the Shoe

    Volume Two: 10 Inspiring Morality Tales 

    CONTENTS 

    • The Glass and the Jumper                          
    • The Cup and the Toothbrush
    • The Parrot and the Woodpecker
    • The Tesla and the Lamborghini
    • The Orange and the Grapefruit
    • The Bear and the Turtle
    • The Helicopter and the Aeroplane
    • The Cactus and the Tree
    • The Spiky Shell and the Star
    • The Pumpkin and the Book

    Volume Three: 9 Enchanting Stories

     

    CONTENTS 

    • The Pig and the Cat
    • The Dog and the Frog
    • The Watch and the Light
    • The Fox and the Computer
    • The Tarantula and the Carpet
    • The Lizard and the Phone
    • The Moonrock and the Cheese
    • The Octopus and the Squid
    • The Book and the Door

    Volume Four: 10    Imaginative Tales

     

    CONTENTS 

    • The Hen and the Mirror
    • The Crocodile and the God
    • The Bat and the Mouse
    • The Note and the Credit Card
    • The Turtle and the Phone.
    • The Cup and the Swiftness Potion
    • The Cup and the Trousers
    • The Robin and the Black Mole
    • The Pear and the Shirt
    • The Ox and the Bull

    The storytelling craft

    Crafting short stories requires distilling whole lives into a handful of pages. Based in Hitchin,  Tom creates tales that resonate with truth, wit, and emotional depth. Whether you are looking for ten minutes of escape or an evening of reflection, there is always a story waiting for you.

    A glimpse into the stories

    Story Tasters in  'My Books' section in header above.

    Step into the narrative with curated excerpts and taster pieces. Each story invites you into a distinct world crafted to challenge assumptions and stir the imagination.  The aims of Jonathan's Tales and target audience are below

    WHAT THESE BOOKS SET OUT TO DO

    • Entertainment: Lively, playful stories told aloud – memorably to the author’s son originally – with a storyteller’s instinct for timing and surprise. High-spirited humour keeps readers and listeners thoroughly engaged.
    • Moral imagination: Each tale carries reflections drawn from a long life:
    • Parables of love, patience, kindness, honesty and forgiveness. A recurring theme is the inevitability of change and the many ways characters adapt to it.
    • Education: The narratives are peppered with idioms, phrases, sayings, and proverbs, all explained in a comprehensive end of book glossary. Each tale is also threaded with factual material across culture, evolution, biology, science, philosophy, zoology, geology, anatomy, geography, literature and history.
    • Thoughtful curiosity: Stories pose questions rather than answer them – about technology, nature, destiny and the joy of discovery and learning – inviting readers to think, wonder and discuss.

    WHAT YOU’LL FIND INSIDE THE VOLUMES

    • Nine or eleven finely wrought tales each small enough to read in one sitting yet rich with detail and resonant meaning,
    • A storyteller’s voice that favours warmth, wit, and the occasional mischievous twist,
    • A user-friendly glossary explaining idioms and factual references.
    • Subtle recurring motifs of transformation, redemption, and the quiet heroism of everyday decisions.

     

    WHO WILL LOVE THESE BOOKS?

    Jonathan’s Tales appeals to parents reading to children from around the age of six; independent young readers from the age of eight upwards; teenagers who enjoy thoughtful fantasy; adult readers who cherish exciting moral tales; and students learning English. As one English teacher said after reading Volume 1: “You are never too old to read a good story.”

    Whether you’re listening with a child, reading by yourself or sharing aloud with friends, these stories are meant to be lived in – and returned to – again and again.

    For parents, they offer a nightly ritual of wonder and warmth. For educators and teachers, they provide a rich resource for English language learning, moral discussion, and imaginative thinking — complete with a comprehensive glossary of idioms, proverbs and factual references woven throughout each tale.

    Whether you're reading at bedtime, in the classroom, or as part of an English learning programme, Jonathan's Tales invites readers of all ages to think, laugh, and grow.

    For parents, educators and teachers the four books are virtually an encyclopaedia of facts, idioms, sayings, phrases and proverbs: the narratives are flagged with superscripted notations explained in a glossary of end notes. The information is available not only to educate and enhance language skills but create polymaths of your very own child. 

    The references cover a broad range of topics: animal and human anatomy and behaviour, astronomy, biology, climate references, differing cultures, evolution, differing religions including biblical references, geography, geology, history, historical epochs, historical figures, mythology (Greek and Roman), nautical sayings, philosophy, psychology, science, Shakespeare and other famous literary works and technology,

     

    Ready to start reading?

    Discover full descriptions, sample chapters, and ordering information for all four published titles today.

    Get in touch with Tom

    Location

    Jonathan's Tales, Hitchin, United Kingdom
    [[email]]