Welcome to Listening Tales from the Story Basket
Spark imagination and inspire a love of storytelling through the magic of sound.
Listening Tales is a captivating collection of 27 audio-only stories for children aged 3 to 7, blending rich narration with music and sound effects to create vivid, immersive worlds that children can picture and explore in their own imagination.
Open a world of wonder through sound and story
Listening Tales from the Story Basket gives children the gift of slowing down, tuning in, and letting their imagination roam free. With 27 beautifully told fairy tales and folktales, each enriched by music and sound effects, children can lose themselves in stories of brave animals, clever tricksters, magical transformations, and faraway lands.
Why audio-only?
By removing the pictures, we invite children to create their own, building concentration, sharpening listening skills, and sparking conversations that deepen understanding.
Part of the Story Diet: Listening Tales nurtures deep listening, imagination, and comprehension, all essential skills that enrich the stories children create in Helicopter Stories.
Explore the Programme
There are two ways to pay: online for instant access, or by invoice (set up within 48 hours)
10% of every purchase supports the Story Access Fund, helping more children experience the power of story.
What makes Listening Tales special?
- Immerse children in storytelling by Trisha Lee, with music and sound by David Baird, so each story feels alive.
- Choose from quick 5-minute tales to longer 13-minute adventures — perfect for any part of your day.
- Enjoy listening again and again — first for fun, then for language and comprehension, and finally to inspire acting out.
- Support EAL and SEND learners with story-specific Word Banks and visual prompts.
Trisha Lee’s storytelling invites children into rich imaginary worlds, while David Baird’s music and sound effects bring each tale to life, from lost mittens to tiny elves and singing donkeys.
Every subscription includes
- One year’s access to all 27 audio-only stories.
- Downloadable PDFs, including a Helicopter Stories version of each tale so you can act it out with your children.
- Word Banks for every story, using images to support understanding and vocabulary.
- Thoughts for Discussion to spark quality talk and invite children’s personal responses.
- Arts, craft, drama, and curriculum-linked activities to take the story further.
- Suggestions for Wriggly Children – where to pause longer stories for easier listening.
- Plus, new stories added from time to time at no extra cost.
There are two ways to pay
- Online using a credit/debit card, giving you instant access to the programme.
- Pay by invoice. This takes up to 48 hours to set up.
The Stories so far:
Festive Stories
- The Little Fir Tree (06:05)
- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (08:16)
Stories Under 6 minutes
- Stone Soup (04.53)
- The Enormous Turnip (05:27)
- Three Billy Goats Gruff (05:31)
- The Gingerbread Man (05:40)
- The White Mitten (05:40)
- The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse (06:00)
- The Frog Prince (06:00)
Stories between 6 and 10 minutes
- Chicken Licken (06:12)
- The Greatest in the Land (06:37)
- How Elephant Got It’s Trunk (06.43)
Stories between 6 and 10 minutes (cont.)
- The Leaky Bucket (06:47)
- The Clay Pot Boy (06.49)
- The Lion and the Mouse (07:06)
- Little Red Riding Hood (07:19)
- The Princess and the Pea (07:43)
- The Ugly Duckling (07:49)
- Rabbit and The Carrot (07.57)
- The Tinder Box (08.04)
- The Elves and the Shoemaker
Stories Between 10 and 15 minutes
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears (10:00)
- The Town Musicians of Bremen (10:01)
- Rumpelstiltskin (10:55)
- The Porridge Pot (10:56)
- The King’s New Clothes (11:34)
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses (13:50)
Programme Includes
- 30 Lessons
- 28 Topics
Ratings and Reviews
Jo Cryan
We have just completed a week on Chicken Licken. The children loved the simple story. We used the activities template to create masks for the characters and the children have acted out the story many times. The vocabulary, such as calamity and disaster, have improved their language skills and they have been using these words in other areas of their play. Amazing for 3 year olds. Thank you
Bernadette Xavier
I have enjoyed doing helicopter stories as it has been a great way to get some non-speakers talking. It was interesting to see my boys (the majority) come to tell their stories from three words to so much more that I had to remind them there was not much space left to right. It confirmed children's different styles of learning and they do taking in more than we realise when they are not looking.
Maria Fotheringham
This is such an amazing way of increasing children's language and inspiring a love of poetry. They remember the words and the actions and love performing the poems.
Kara Cook
I love the short stories in the story basket my kids love them!
Sharon Hooper
The children in my class absolutely love these.
One person found this helpful.
Joby
A weekly dose of Helicopter Stories launches the creative powers within the mind of all ages. The look of enjoyment on children's faces as they sit around the stage and listen to the stories never fails to bring a smile to any face. Listening to them create their stories brings with it the chance to share in a world of imagination and truly watch these young minds grow.
One person found this helpful.
Shelley Taylor
Having used the Poetry Basket across the year, I had high expectations for the Story Basket and I haven't been disappointed. Reception class have been very engaged with these beautiful audio stories - a new experience for many children. We are really enjoying the stories and the format is brilliant for helping children build focus and attention - I will continue to use it next year. Thankyou!
One person found this helpful.
Nicola Howe
We did the Elves and the Shoemaker because it fitted in with our theme. The children found it a novelty to listen - a few looked round in case they were missing a visual and then relaxed and tuned in. The children loved the music and sound effects - it kept them engaged, and the staff just enjoyed being told a story! We will definitely be using more of these stories and activity ideas.
2 people found this helpful.
Helen Prud’homme
Amazing stories, the children were mesmerized with the amazing music, stunning descriptions and unbelievable story telling. They laughed a lot and were inspired into creating props, singing and dancing as a response to what they heard. Brilliant for EAL learners as so interactive. An absolute favorite is the Three Billy Goats Gruff! Thank you Make Believe Arts.
One person found this helpful.
Loved the whole class engagement.