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.
Location: Australia
Deep in the heart of an Australian forest, where golden sunlight filters through the trees, lives Renny, a regent honeyeater with feathers as dazzling as the morning sun. But Renny has a problem—he cannot sing.
All the other birds have their own beautiful songs. The bellbirds chime like tiny silver bells, the kookaburras fill the air with laughter, and the wise old lyrebird can copy any sound he hears. But no matter how hard Renny tries, his song is missing.
Determined to find it, Renny sets off on a journey through the forest. He listens, he learns, and he searches for the music that once belonged to birds like him. But where do lost songs go?
Then, Renny meets Tilly, an elderly regent honeyeater who remembers things others have forgotten. She shares a secret—a whisper of something long ago, a sound carried on the wind.
And in that moment, everything begins to change.
Where LITTLE Ears go on Big Adventures
BOOK 1 - The BIRD WHO LOST ITS SONG
Dedicated to the voices that refuse to be lost
STory Synopsis
BOOK 1 - The BIRD WHO LOST ITS SONG
Dedicated to the voices that refuse to be lost
STory Synopsis
Location: Australia
Deep in the heart of an Australian forest, where golden sunlight filters through the trees, lives Renny, a regent honeyeater with feathers as dazzling as the morning sun. But Renny has a problem—he cannot sing.
All the other birds have their own beautiful songs. The bellbirds chime like tiny silver bells, the kookaburras fill the air with laughter, and the wise old lyrebird can copy any sound he hears. But no matter how hard Renny tries, his song is missing.
Determined to find it, Renny sets off on a journey through the forest. He listens, he learns, and he searches for the music that once belonged to birds like him. But where do lost songs go?
Then, Renny meets Tilly, an elderly regent honeyeater who remembers things others have forgotten. She shares a secret—a whisper of something long ago, a sound carried on the wind.
And in that moment, everything begins to change.
Where LITTLE Ears go on Big Adventures
featuring
Renny
A young, determined regent honeyeater searching for his song and purpose.
Tilly
An elderly regent honeyeater who becomes Renny’s mentor and guide.
Bellbirds
Cheerful and melodic, they encourage Renny to try their song, teaching him that not every voice fits.
Kookaburra
A loud, joyful bird who emphasizes the emotional connection to a song
Fairywren
A playful and encouraging bird who inspires Renny to be fearless and explore his unique potential.
Brolga
A graceful dancer with a hum-like song, teaching Renny about rhythm and movement.
Lyrebird
A master mimic who offers wisdom about creating something new and unique from shared melodies.
WRITTEN BY: ALDOUS HEAF + AMANDA HILL
NARRATED BY: Martha West
Nature Sounds: The Listening Planet
& Martyn Stewart
Producer and Sound Designer: Seb Masters
Illustrator: Kate Kuznetsova
The story unfolds in the magical golden forest of Australia. The forest is alive with eucalyptus trees, shimmering blue lakes, bubbling creeks, and sunlit clearings where various birds gather.
The Eucalyptus Canopy:
Towering eucalyptus trees form a sprawling canopy. The trees hum with life, hosting a symphony of native birds and insects.
The Bubbling Creek
A crystal-clear creek winds through the forest, its banks shaded by ferns and lined with native grasses.
The Sunlit Clearing:
An open glade bathed in golden sunlight, where birds often gather to display their songs and dances. Wildflowers add vibrant color to the scene, and the air is warm and inviting.
The Great Lyrebird’s Grove
A shaded, secluded grove where a wise lyrebird resides. The forest floor is soft with fallen leaves, and the grove echoes with the lyrebird’s masterful imitations.
The Regent Honeyeater Nesting Tree:
A grand, flowering gum tree where Tilly, the elderly regent honeyeater, lives. The blossoms provide nectar for many birds, creating a hub of activity.
The Shimmering Lake:
A tranquil, blue lake reflecting the sky and surrounded by reeds. Birds, including kookaburras, gather here to play, sing, and share stories.
LOCATION
WRITTEN BY: ALDOUS HEAF + AMANDA HILL
NARRATED BY: Martha West
Nature Sounds: The Listening Planet
& Martyn Stewart
Producer and Sound Designer: Seb Masters
Illustrator: Kate Kuznetsova
NARRATED BY: Martha west
created by: aldous Heaf