In this episode of Once Upon an Adventure, we explore family, belonging, and the role silence plays in shaping how children understand the people around them.

We begin with Running on Empty by S. E. Durrant, a pre-teen novel told from a child’s perspective, where much of family life is defined not by what is explained, but by what is left unsaid. The story offers a clear, realistic portrayal of how children interpret silence and how they often carry meaning adults don’t realise they’re making.

We then turn to We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes, a contemporary adult novel about a complex household shaped by divorce, shared space, and unresolved history. From the adult point of view, silence becomes a coping strategy; a way to keep life functioning even as it reshapes relationships within the family.

Together, these books invite us to think more carefully about who counts as family, how connection is built, and what children learn from the emotional gaps we leave unspoken. The episode also includes a simple, classroom-friendly Mini Mission designed to help children reflect on the people they rely on; at home, at school, and beyond.

This episode is for parents, teachers, and caregivers who want to use stories to open thoughtful conversations about family, belonging, and emotional honesty.

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In this episode of Once Upon an Adventure, we explore what adventure really means.

Through Once Upon a Fairytale by Natalia O’Hara and Bedtime Adventure Stories for Grownups by Anna McNuff, we look at adventure not as something planned or polished, but as something that unfolds in real time. For children, adventure often appears through story, full of choices, obstacles, and imagined worlds. For adults, it arrives through experience, disruption, uncertainty, and learning as we go.

We’re also joined on the Sibling Shelf by Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and The Ice Monster, two stories that bridge fantasy and reality, showing how adventure shapes identity, empathy, and courage at different ages.

This episode invites listeners to rethink adventure... not as an outcome, but as a way of meeting what we don’t yet understand.

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Fear doesn’t disappear as we grow up...it just changes shape.

In this episode of Once Upon an Adventure, we explore overcoming fear through children’s literature and adult non-fiction, looking at what happens in the moments just before we act.

We begin with Be Brave Little Penguin by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees, a picture book about hesitation, anticipation, and the quiet courage it takes to take a first step. We then turn to Susan Jeffers’ Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, examining how fear evolves in adulthood, from immediate worries to layered “what ifs” about failure, identity, and consequence.

Looking at these two books, this episode explores how fear functions differently for children and adults, and how stories can help us move forward without pretending fear isn’t there. You’ll also find additional book recommendations for other ages and a grounded Mini Mission inviting both adults and children to face one small thing they’ve been avoiding.

A thoughtful listen for parents, educators, and anyone interested in how stories shape emotional resilience.

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Most titles referenced are listed on our affiliate bookshop that supports independent and local sellers.

Visit our linktree for more information: https://linktr.ee/onceuponapod_