Why a tram, a laneway and one small star?
Our first Melbourne-set preview begins with ordinary things a child might remember from an outing—and lets one impossible little detail tie them together.
Start somewhere recognisable.
A tram bell, the station across the river, the uneven feel of a laneway: these are details that can turn a city into your city. We chose them because they give a child something to recognise and retell, even when the adventure itself is make-believe.
Keep the magic small.
The glowing star does not need to save the whole city. It just gives the child, Mum and Biscuit a reason to look closely and go home together. The heart of the sample is that familiar feeling of belonging with your people.
Be clear about what is real.
The story and characters are fictional. The illustrations are AI-generated concept images made to help us explore a visual direction. We have not finished the first customer book or decided exactly how personalisation and production will work. Feedback from interested families will help shape those decisions.
See the sample itself.
Read the short preview and tell us whether a Melbourne place—and the people your child loves—would make storytime feel more personal.
Read the fictional sample →