Story sample
stories
LITTLE LISTENS PODCAST SERIES
LITTLE LISTENS SHORT STORIES
COMING SOON
On April 3rd, 2025, we joyously celebrate the 70th birthday of Martyn Stewart, our co-founder and pioneer in wildlife sound recording. In honor of this milestone, we're thrilled to launch THE LITTLE LISTENING PLANET.
A Boy Who Listened to the World
Martyn's journey began long before he ever held a microphone. When he was just 8 years old, he and his big brother, Alan, would slip away from the noisy streets of Birmingham, England, and disappear into the green, whispering countryside. To some, it was just a forest. To Martyn, it was a whole other world. The rustling leaves carried secrets. The streams murmured ancient lullabies. And the birds? They weren’t just singing—they were telling stories.
At 11 years old, Martyn found a way to save those stories. Borrowing his brother’s microphone and tape recorder, he captured the song of a Eurasian Blackbird. That one recording unlocked a lifelong adventure - one that would take him across the planet, collecting the voices of creatures great and small, from the roaring Arctic winds to the tiniest buzzing bees in the Amazon.
A Keeper of Earth’s Hidden Voices
For over 60 years, Martyn has traveled the world, listening to animals that most of us will never get to meet in person. He’s recorded the deep, wise rumbles of elephants, the splashy chatter of dolphins, and the lonely howls of wolves under a silver moon. But he doesn’t just record sounds—he keeps their stories alive, making sure the voices of our planet are never forgotten.
That’s why we’re launching THE LISTENING PLANET KIDS - a new way for children (of all ages) to discover these magical sounds and stories, just like Martyn did when he was young. Because the world is full of voices waiting to be heard—and who knows? Maybe YOU will be the next great listener!
Because when we listen, we learn. And when we learn, we love.
BOOK 2 - The BEE Who Learned to Dance
Dedicated to the bees and blooms who keep our world alive.
STory Synopsis
Location: France, Europe
Set in the golden meadows of the French countryside, this story follows Amélie, a small honeybee with uneven wings and a big heart. Amélie longs to find her own waggle dance - a special dance bees use to guide their hive to nectar - but feels out of place when her attempts fall short. With her best friend, the adventurous drone Bastien, Amélie sets out to discover her unique dance.
Along the way, they meet a series of meadow creatures - a beetle, a butterfly, a hummingbird, and a snail - each teaching Amélie a lesson about confidence, grace, patience, and rhythm. Slowly, she begins to weave these lessons together, guided by the harmony of the meadow.
Amélie’s journey culminates when she returns to the hive and performs a dance like no other - slower and softer but clear and true. Her dance leads the bees to a hidden field of nectar-rich blooms, and the meadow comes alive as pollination spreads far and wide. Through her quest, Amélie discovers that true belonging comes not from copying others but from embracing her own way of contributing to the hive and the world.
Where Little Ears go on Big Adventures
featuring
Amélie
A curious, determined honeybee with a big heart and uneven wings, searching for her own unique waggle dance.
Bastien
A playful and supportive drone bee, Amélie’s best friend who encourages her to explore and believe in herself.
The Beetle
A confident creature who teaches Amélie the importance of boldness but also warns against rigidity in movement.
The Butterfly
A graceful nectar sipper who inspires Amélie to embrace beauty but reminds her that substance matters more than appearance.
The Hummingbird
An energetic and fast-moving bird who demonstrates the dangers of rushing and teaches Amélie the value of balance.
The Snail
A serene and wise creature who helps Amélie find her rhythm by listening to the meadow’s quiet, natural pulse.
WRITTEN BY: ALDOUS HEAF + AMANDA HILL
NARRATED BY: Michelle Schechter
Nature Sounds: The Listening Planet
& Martyn Stewart
Producer and Sound Designer: Seb Masters
Illustrator: Kate Kuznetsova
The story unfolds in a picturesque French meadow nestled among rolling hills. The meadow is alive with vibrant lavender, golden wildflowers, and grasses that sway gently in the Mistral wind. The bees’ hive is hidden inside an ancient chestnut tree, and the meadow is dotted with secret spots -like a bubbling brook where the snail resides and flower-filled clearings where Amélie meets the butterfly and hummingbird.
The Ancient Chestnut Tree
he hive is nestled within the hollow of a grand, ancient chestnut tree, its trunk gnarled with age and its branches sprawling wide to provide shade and shelter. Bees bustle in and out, filling the air with a steady hum.
The Open Meadow
A vibrant expanse of soft lavender, golden wildflowers, and tall grasses swaying gently in the breeze. The meadow is alive with the hum of insects and the occasional song of birds
The Daisies Patch
A sunny corner of the meadow where Bastien tumbles into a patch of daisies. The flowers here nod playfully in the breeze, and their soft white petals stand out against the greens and purples of the meadow.
The Hidden Field of Blooms:
A secret field filled with nectar-rich flowers, vibrant and untouched. This is the treasure Amélie’s dance reveals to the hive.
The Quiet Stream:
A tranquil brook winding through the meadow, lined with watercress and shaded by low-hanging branches. This is the snail’s serene home.
LOCATION
Location: France, Europe
Set in the golden meadows of the French countryside, this story follows Amélie, a small honeybee with uneven wings and a big heart. Amélie longs to find her own waggle dance - a special dance bees use to guide their hive to nectar - but feels out of place when her attempts fall short. With her best friend, the adventurous drone Bastien, Amélie sets out to discover her unique dance.
Along the way, they meet a series of meadow creatures - a beetle, a butterfly, a hummingbird, and a snail - each teaching Amélie a lesson about confidence, grace, patience, and rhythm. Slowly, she begins to weave these lessons together, guided by the harmony of the meadow.
Amélie’s journey culminates when she returns to the hive and performs a dance like no other - slower and softer but clear and true. Her dance leads the bees to a hidden field of nectar-rich blooms, and the meadow comes alive as pollination spreads far and wide. Through her quest, Amélie discovers that true belonging comes not from copying others but from embracing her own way of contributing to the hive and the world.
Dedicated to the bees and blooms who keep our world alive.
STory Synopsis
BOOK 2 - The BEE Who Learned to Dance
Where Little Ears go on Big Adventures
WRITTEN BY: ALDOUS HEAF + AMANDA HILL
NARRATED BY: Michelle Schechter
Nature Sounds: The Listening Planet
& Martyn Stewart
Producer and Sound Designer: Seb Masters
Illustrator: Kate Kuznetsova
NARRATED BY: Michelle Schechter
created by: aldous Heaf